Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 6010 SPRING//SUMMER 2017 What are the key benefits for the LaunchPad winners? Visibility and validation; the London Stationery Show is such a fantastic and exciting event in the industry calendar. Getting this recognition at the show will be so important for these brands in getting in front of the relevant buyers and industry contacts. I’m sure the LaunchPad winner area at the show will be a real highlight! What do you think the standard of the entries says about the industry? The standard was extremely high, with great variety across different types of products, ranging from beautiful fashion-led pieces to problem- solving functional items. The standard demonstrates the stationery industry is still ripe for innovation and that there are many creatives out there taking advantage of this.  Why is it important to support new talent in stationery? At notonthehighstreet.com we are passionate about supporting small businesses, and stationery is an important category for us. New talent is often the best source of product innovation and creativity, moving the industry forward and giving customers new reasons to buy. Sometimes it’s hard for new talent to get a ‘big break’ and platforms such as LaunchPad and notonthehighstreet can give newer or smaller businesses that head start for success.  Rebecca Saunders, notonthehighstreet.com: As a creative, what stood out for you among the entries? Firstly, the wide variety of products, from handcrafted writing implements to beautifully bound notebooks. It’s great to see so many different skills being explored and practised within the one industry. Secondly, the innovative use of materials, including recycled newspapers for pencils, beautiful leather for a jotter, tweed for a journal… Finally, the winning entries all showed brand awareness; creating a consistent look and feel to a product range, making it unique and instantly recognisable as that brand. They focused on the story behind their products, and their USP, which is key to helping products stand out in the market. And as a business woman? It is a balancing act to produce something beautiful in design and nature, as well as making it commercial. Often compromises have to be made, but most importantly without impacting the integrity of the product. The winners were selected not only on the success of the design and execution of the product, but on the fact that the products were deemed to be commercial both in terms of their RRP and the overall presentation. What should the LaunchPad winners take away from this event? The London Stationery Show is a fantastic platform into the market place. To be surrounded by new and well established stationery brands is always a time for inspiration and reflection, as well as a perfect opportunity to bounce ideas off your peers and to learn from them. Encourage buyers to pass comment on your products, and invite criticism to help develop your product ranges and prepare them for market. Draw on their knowledge and experience. Make as many contacts as possible... you never know who you will meet and what doors might open for you. Kim Harrup-Brook, esmie: You know what excites your readers. What would they think about the 12 LaunchPad winners? I think they’d love the fact that these are up-and-coming designers who aren’t on everyone’s radar, so they can feel in the know about a brand or emerging trends. There’s also great variety on the list – from journals with innovative layouts to pencils that double as spinning tops. Our readers appreciate that stationery doesn’t end with notebooks and pens (but they love those too). How much diversity did you see in the entries? We saw a wide range of items and also a few recurring trends. Mindful journals and planners are a ‘thing’ it would seem; it was reassuring to see both notecards, notebooks and pens all geared to fostering a love of writing. While a couple of the journals were similar (we suspected they might have the same supplier), I was impressed by the range. Did you have a personal favourite? Why? I thought Treewise’s pencils made from old newspapers were a brilliant and good-value item that would make a great stocking filler for a keen writer - and it taps into the trend for eco-friendly, sustainable products. I’d have liked to have seen the packaging make more of where the pencils came from, though.   How important is it to support new talent in stationery? As someone in a position to champion new brands, I think it’s hugely important and one of the most enjoyable parts of my job. If we don’t do that and everyone just defaults to the same old brands, the world – and our desks – would be a much duller place. Sally Newell, The Independent: Run by the London Stationery Show, the first-ever LaunchPad competition attracted entries from more than 40 individuals and companies eager to break into the booming UK stationery industry.The panel of three judges had the challenging task of choosing 12 winners, each of which receives a free display space at this year’s London Stationery Show. Read about the winners on the show website or meet them in person at the show. Meet the Judges Rebecca Saunders, head of development at leading online curated marketplace notonthehighstreet.com is involved in NOTHS’ ‘Pitch-Up’ sessions to find potential partners. Kim Harrup-Brook, graphic designer and founder of Elegant Stationery Made in England or ‘esmie’ started her business from scratch. She sells through iconic store Liberty and understands the challenge of creating a desirable brand and range of products. Sally Newall is editor of IndyBest, the product reviews section of The Independent, and has a great feel for pricing and what consumers want to buy. ThinkTrigg Archivia Berjo Creative Ltd Off Lines By Mrs Carter Foggish My Pretty Circus David Hayward Design Elmo Paperstories Treewise Ortie Design Spots & Stripes