I had a couple of people write in to ask which pen show I was attending over the past few days in New York City, and the answer is that there wasn’t one! Sunday through Tuesday I attended both NY Now and Shoppe Object, which are two “to-the-trade” shows, meaning that they are open only to retailers, distributors, and sometimes to the press. I initially attended NYNow years ago as “press”, when I was running T.G.S. primarily as a stationery enthusiast website, reviewing products, and keeping track of all the new product releases. Now that I have both brick-and-mortar and online retail operations, I can attend as a buyer.
Yes, those are Leuchtturm1917 “Master” Size Notebooks in multiple colors!
What’s the Main Difference Between a Pen Show and a Trade Show? No Buying on Site.
Think of these shows as exhibitions - manufacturers and distributors bring samples of their goods, including their latest releases, for retailers to see and handle in person before ordering. Why is this important? Because many brands have large minimum order requirements and there’s a lot of risk involved if you have to order 50 units of something without ever having seen it in person. Traditional trade shows minimize that risk. It can also be quite helpful to have direct access to sales representatives and be able to ask questions in person, especially as some tend to be nonresponsive to e-mail and telephone inquiries by smaller shops as they nearly always focus most of their service and attention on larger internet retailers. While you can place orders at trade shows, there is no purchasing on site. Products are delivered
Notem - a brand from Denmark that makes clothbound undated planners.
I Can’t Talk About Much of What I Saw
Most of what I saw - or at least those things readers would be most interested in - are forthcoming products that will be announced in the coming months. While there were a lot of interesting items on display, both NY Now and Shoppe Object seemed sparse this year, which has been a trend as these sorts of shows get pushed online to wholesale marketplaces like Faire. It’s a double-edged sword: while I appreciate getting to see things in person at trade shows, the shows themselves are expensive to attend, and online marketplaces typically allow you to order smaller quantities and even tester/sample products before committing to larger orders. It remains to be seen whether the traditional trade show will continue to exist in its current format with twice-a-year frequency.
I will likely continue to attend these shows in addition to the normal pen show circuit because over the years I’ve discovered some unique products that I wouldn’t have found anywhere else. For example, brands like Anecdote Goods, the distributors of Toyo Steel and Braun, and even Leuchtturm exhibit at these shows, and the relationships cultivated in person make it easier to expand my offerings. I hope you enjoyed this quick look “behind the curtain”!
Our shop is open normal hours this week! Come see us 1-6pm on Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday!
NYNow had some company in the Javitz Center this year!
Lot of dogs on site!