Editor's Letters Features

Recently, Great American Media Services, the parent company of Stationery Trends and Gift Shop® Plus, emailed a survey several times regarding the possible formation of a gift and stationery event. A few even came from my email.

These all had a goal to ascertain whether there’s a need for a new in-person event providing education, networking and buying opportunities. For many years, National Stationery Show (NSS) filled a unique role as the only can’t-miss, annual event for all things paper and related gift — if you missed it each May, there was no guarantee you would see the major players until the following year. This actually shaped my career: I officially started at Gifts & Decorative Accessories the week after NSS, so my understanding of the market as a whole didn’t really crystallize until the following May.

The demise of NSS was overshadowed by COVID-19. In 2020, NSS co-located with NY NOW in February for an impressive edition. (I know this, as I spent the next few years closely reviewing my photos while waiting for markets to begin again.) By that point, sheer pandemic panic had taken over, and trade shows and online platforms found themselves adjusting to a climate that had seemingly transformed overnight.

The pandemic stalled, then altered the landscape, leaving gift markets thriving but transformed. Now, both digital and physical shows populate the country, calendar and computer as the Greeting Card Association’s *Noted+Gifted Expo continues to evolve.

As such, we are trying to read the current climate. Whether you are a maker, sales rep or retailer, what is working — and what isn’t? Do you still feel the gap left by NSS, or are your needs answered by current trade shows? Our goal is to ascertain what may be missing, so that we can best address it. And if such an endeavor is not needed, we want to know that too.

So, thanks to those who answered our survey, and especially to everyone who responded to me personally with kind words and votes of confidence. The mission of Stationery Trends has always been to connect players, so everyone can better connect through our magnificent medium.

While the survey may be officially closed, my email remains open 24/7 for your thoughts. Meanwhile the other primary mission of our publication is to bring design trends directly to your hands, so keep reading for plenty of those as well!

Until next issue,