Editor's Letters

The last few years have taught us that nothing is certain.

Thanks to a virus, our community has had to revisit everything from the way we buy and sell merchandise to retooling existing products to accommodate available supplier resources.

Of course, smarter makers are already turning these issues into relatable products. After a morning dealing with paper and envelope issues, Jocelyn Kirouac of Ümlaut Brooklyn shared the photo above in her Instagram feed. The response it received spurred its incarnation as a card that is selling quite well!

Seeing makers turn lemons into lemonade is informing my response to those lemons in Stationery Trends’ lap. Due to our own paper supply chain issues, we have made the difficult decision to retool the publication’s trim size and paper you now hold in your hands.

Paper availability is very challenging and paper mills are cutting back on the kinds and amounts of paper they are producing. Paper prices have soared 40% in the past two years.

Given the audience for this particular trade publication, I am sure I am preaching to the choir here, as we are experiencing similar challenges to much of our readership. This is a solution to keep us printing and publishing, so I’m living by that wise maxim from Theodore Roosevelt: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

With the state of the world as it is, stationery is more important than ever as a tool to organize our thoughts and connect with others. But don’t take my word for it. I think by the time you reach the back cover of this, our annual Design Issue, you’ll be in agreement!

Until next issue,

P.S. Yes, the editorial focus of this issue is design, but don’t miss the vital, industrywide call to action Please share this effort with your community to help spread the word and implement positive change on a critical issue that impacts us all.