News

The National Stationery Show will hold six buyer education seminars during the show May 15-18, 2016 at the Javits Center in New York City, focusing on topics including bridal trends, marketing, social media, design trends, and financial strategies for small businesses on a budget.

Among this year’s speakers is Darcy Miller, editorial director, Martha Stewart Weddings. Over the past 20 years, Miller’s experience with weddings and parties of all kinds, sizes and cultures has allowed her to become Martha Stewart’s Celebrations Expert. Miller has shared her tips and tricks with audiences nationwide, through appearances on “The Martha Stewart Show,” NBC’s “TODAY,” other news programs and cable appearances on the Style Network and E! weddings specials.

“We are pleased to offer a variety of fun, interactive and informative education seminars at this year’s Show,” said Patti Stracher, vice president and show director for the NSS. “Attendees will gain firsthand knowledge of the many exciting tools available to help them both stay current and grow their business for years to come.”

Buyer Education seminars at the National Stationery Show

Wedding Design Trends to Make the Big Day Distinctive

In search of great wedding design ideas and inspiration to share with your customers to help make their big day one they’ll always remember – and your store one they’ll never forget? Darcy Miller, editorial director, Martha Stewart Weddings, can help. Miller has thought a lot about how to make both the “big day”- but also the everyday – meaningful and memorable. Her mantra is “make it personal.” She is the author and illustrator of “Our Wedding Scrapbook,” a unique memory-keeping journal and scrapbook for newly engaged brides to preserve the important moments of their big day.

NSS Class of ’70: Taste Makers and Trend Shapers

This exciting visual presentation features snapshot profiles and standout creations from 30 NSS exhibitors – all of whom reflect market trends through their unique products and perspectives. Sarah Schwartz, editor-in-chief of Stationery Trends, an award-winning, design-focused trade quarterly magazine devoted to all things paper, will present the session. Schwartz is a blogger at ThePaperChronicles.com and travels to trade shows around the world to spot emerging trends.

From Boring to Bold: Supercharge Your Social Media and Increase Your Sales

Improve how you use social media to elevate your business to the next level. Learn how to implement key strategies and create content that excites and engages your audience, increases your sales, and turns your followers into raving fans who will help promote your business.

Rob Fortier, the presenter, is a creative talent wrangler who helps “right-brain” people succeed in a rational, left-brain business landscape. He draws on nearly 10 years of creative design and greeting card industry experience to help entrepreneurs create, sell and win in today’s marketplace using an innovative and humorous approach to the challenges faced by small and creative companies.

Color/Design at a Crossroads: Finding the Most Directional Trends

When color decisions are being made, the question inevitably arises about the “right” color direction. What path will drive success and consumer or client satisfaction? The answer is developing the ability to better assess and gauge their aspirations and lifestyle needs, encouraging the use of invigorated color/design palettes that will persuade, engage, enlist, and enable new directions.

Color guru Leatrice Eiseman, director of the, Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training, and executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, will share her insight. FORTUNE Magazine has named Eiseman one of the top decision-makers for her work in color and forecasting. Through her Center for Color Information and Training, she teaches ongoing color/design courses for professionals and is the author of eight books on color. Eiseman also creates the Pantone View Home, an annual color forecast for professionals.

Creative Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

When customers are ready to buy, you want to be at the top of their list! This stimulating session will provide valuable strategies to market your business with maximum impact on a tight budget.

Since 2008, Diane Drey, SCORE, has provided one-on-one business counseling to entrepreneurs through SCORE, a volunteer organization that is a partner to the Small Business Administration. Her expertise is in financial control, marketing and negotiations.

Visual Merchandising Trends: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary

Visual merchandising has a dramatic effect on brand perception and sales, because 70 percent of buying decisions are made through sight. This session explores the profitability-enhancing strategies of merchandising and display, while providing insights on how to increase sales. Learn how to fuse the science of visual merchandising with the art of the retail experience to truly make first impressions count.

Ken Nisch, chairman of JGA, is a global leader in branded environments and consumer strategy, whose clients include The North Face, Disney, McCormick, and the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City. His knowledge and entrepreneurial insights into the consumer mind are integrated into conceptual development and strategic image positioning for retail operators, manufacturers and brand marketers.