A day spent trolling the aisles at this year’s Stationery Show suggests that a name change may be in order: there ain’t much paper in sight, and what little there is seems a mere afterthought to the now-familiar deluge of men’s silk ties, personalized golf and baseballs (two different manufacturers), lamp shades, chess boards, beaded evening bags, and picture framers by the score (giving Sourcebooks’ Picture Frame Book series particular oomph, the publisher reported). True, there were fewer angels adorning the Javits Center this year, and a notable absence of branded merchandise (Olivia the dancing pig was the exception, with barest hints of Harry Potter). Fewer independent store buyers turned out as well, though chains such as Hallmark, Urban Outfitters, and Anthropologie were on full alert.
Summing up the general business climate, one large publishing presence said cash flow is so tight that accounts won’t confirm orders three months in advance; consequently, this publisher had moved all its manufacturing to the US to be as nimble as possible. All in all, the legions of vacant booths were testimony that it’s time to think about hooking up with the gift shows — they service the same reps, after all, hawking the same merchandise. Atlanta is next up on the gift circuit, and the event most show-goers said they were pumped to attend.
Yet what struck this visitor, as in previous years, was that publishers’ wares seemed so much more distinctive, even cutting-edge, than the rest of the merch at the show, which now verges on the homogeneous (very pink, very ruffled, very cute). Publishers such as Merriam Webster and Harcourt reported slow business (suffering perhaps from awkward booth location), but other booths were busy, including Chronicle, which continues to offer the quirkiest packaging, viz. The Chinese Chop Pack (chops are stamps used for delivering a greeting or message) which comes with an inkpad and an 80-page book in a wooden box. Business was also brisk at Random House, where the Potter Style line continues to elegantly (and economically, one suspects) expand its line of note cards derived from Potter titles such as The Art of Imperfection and Of The Moment. A standout in the line is All Things Oz, with original art and text from the 14 works written by L. Frank Baum himself, created by Linda Sunshine and following successful books developed from the 40,000-item memorabilia collection of Willard Carroll.
Traffic was also swift at Andrews McMeel, where The Little Big Book Series created by Welcome is now up to a dozen titles and “blowing out of the stores,” according to AM’s Lynne McAdoo. Solid market presence Running Press exhibited titles from its new owners, including books from Perseus as well as their Da Capo music imprint (the toughest part was explaining to buyers why the books had no pictures but would sell anyway). Setting the pace for cleverly saleable products, Running Press’s Miniature editions are up to 250 titles — with over 40 so-called kits — from the Bonsai Potato kit to Golf Voodoo. And stay tuned for twelve inspirational titles licensed from Zondervan.
