Fashion-based stationery and environmentally-friendly products to drive revenue.

 

Research firm IBISWorld has updated its Stationery Goods Retailing in Australia report with an overview of the sector from 2024 to 2029.

 

IBIS World said the market size is projected to grow over the next five years with demand for fashion-based stationery set to remain high. 

 

“With more options to choose from, fashionable or designer stationery retail stores and businesses stocking specialty papers and associated scrapbooking accessories are set to outperform traditional stationery retailers over the next few years, the research company said.

 

Shifts towards digital communication are cutting stationery demand, consequently traditional letter writing has become a thing of the past. 

 

“Businesses and consumers alike have become increasingly aware of the environmental effects of excessive paper consumption. In a bid to save trees, downstream markets have shifted to digital communication like email. Greater use of text messaging, instant messaging apps and social media are also damaging stationery sales,” IBISWorld noted.

 

The 2024 IBISWorld report revealed that of the industry’s $2.2 billion in annual revenue, 21.5 per cent of sales can be attributed to books, 20.5 per cent to newspapers and magazines, 16.9 per cent to stationery, cards and gifts, and 12.5 per cent to lotteries.  

 

While the official number of newsagency retailers is difficult to pin down, IBISWorld currently quotes a figure of 1784, while software supplier Tower Systems believes the number is somewhere closer to 2800.