We're marking the start of September with something rather special this year: our first ever back to school pop-up, which launches this Friday in Soho.
For many of us, the 'stationery thing' began with that annual ritual of going stationery shopping ahead of the new school year — realising the start of September is upon us and it's time to get prepared. It was as much about the stuff itself, as it was the feeling this ritual gives you, as you dust off a leisurely summer and set things up for a productive autumn.
I've often spoken to customers about this tradition of September stationery shopping and my favourite quote was from a customer who said "Once I'd been stationery shopping with my mum, and I had my new pencil case, I felt like things were just going to go well." So I hope the new stationery on your desk can make you feel something like that as we all begin to return to our desks this week. And of course, this year we have our very own Mark+Fold Pencil Case as a new addition to the range which we've been planning for many years and finally launched in July.
Monocle Radio kindly invited me onto their daily show last Tuesday to share my thoughts on this 'specialist subject' and we covered everything from stationery shopping in Japan and how it differs to the UK, to taking my daughter stationery shopping last week for her new pencil case and pens as she prepares to start secondary school this week. You can listen here (the stationery segment is 18 minutes in.
Of course, both of these examples are of in-person stationery shopping and as much as we love to be online, there really is nothing like real-life stationery shops: perusing the pencils, flicking through the notebooks, settling on the perfect set of things to make you feel ready for what lies ahead. So we're pleased to be creating a little pocket of stationery magic in the heart of Soho and hope you'll come and visit!
Wishing you a great start to September, and hope to see you at the pop-up!
Amy x
Visiting the pop-up
