Non-traditional products buck the trend.

 

There are growing stationery opportunities for Australian newsagents and that is with products that reach beyond a practical need, according to newsXpress director and industry commentator Mark Fletcher. 

 

“It is stationery that is fun, on point and going against the overall trend,” Fletcher said, having posted an 8.5 per cent increase in monthly sales to $11,300 of non-traditional stationery at the newsXpress Malvern outlet.

 

“This is not major branded stationery, such as Disney characters, nor it social stationery that we have known for years. It is stationery with text or images that make it appealing beyond function, like personalised pencils,” he said.

 

“There are plenty of other opportunities for items such as pens, pads, post-it notes, envelopes, stickers, tape, and more,” he added.

 

“The challenge is to be current with the offer as some trends will come and go in the blink of an eye. Others, though, are around for months, even years, offering opportunities to make good money,” he said.

 

“Most suppliers of these types of trend stationery items are not common to our channel,” Fletcher added.

 

Fletcher’s most recent sales benchmark survey for selected newsagencies showed a three per cent increase in stationery sales.