The London Stationery Show is delighted to announce that all entries to this year’s Stationery Awards will be reviewed by a top panel of leading buyers from retailers across the stationery industry, including Between the Lines, Spotlight Stationery, WHSmith, Blenheim Palace and John Lewis.

“The Stationery Awards identify the year’s newest standout writing and paper products.  They are chosen by a team of experienced and enthusiastic retailers, so it’s a wonderful opportunity for exhibitors to ensure their products are seen at close quarters by some very influential buyers.  They have until April 7^th to get their entries in!” says Tim Willoughby, exhibition director and COO of Ocean Media Exhibitions, which owns the show.

The Awards are now in their seventh year and once again, the judging panel will be led by chair Henri Davis, independent retail advisor and chairman of The Giftware Association, who has guided the judges since the Awards started.  The 2017 winners will be announced at the end of the first day of the show.

The 2017 judges are Lindsey Kleinlercher, product director at award-winning gift and stationery chain, Between the Lines; Mary Wright, co-founder at Spotlight Stationery, the subscription service which specialises in premium brands and artisan stationery not commonly found on the high street; Sarah Turner, trading controller at leading UK stationery retailer WHSmith; Judy Bendall, head of retail at Blenheim Palace and Charlotte McCarthy, buyers assistant for greetings cards, gift wrap and seasonal events at John Lewis, who was also a judge last year.

The Stationery Awards are open to all exhibitors at the London Stationery Show, which runs at the Business Design Centre, in Islington on Tuesday, 25 and Wednesday, 26 April.

“Last year the team had to squeeze 350 award entries into our new product display – but it’s a great problem to have!” says Tim.

The display, which sits right at the entrance to the show, is a fantastic way for visitors to see all the new stationery product launches in one place and the perfect spot to pick out design and product trends easily.

The judges assess all the entries on the first morning of the show, with the results announced at the end of the first day at the after show party.  The show’s entrance display is then updated overnight to highlight the winning products.

At the 2016 Awards Presentation, Henri Davis commented:

“The judges were thrilled by the strength and diversity of the products entered this year.  With four new judges on the panel there were comments about how useful it was to see focused selections of new products to evaluate and compare.  They were all making notes of products they wanted to follow up on.”

This year one new category has been added to the options open to suppliers – Arts & Crafts.  The existing categories are:  Desk Accessories, Diaries, Organisers & Calendars, Everyday Writing Instruments, Writing Instruments (over £25 RRP), Novelty Stationery, Social Stationery (writing paper, envelopes, notecards, invitations), Notebooks & Journals, Licensed Stationery and Filing & Storage.  All entries must have been launched to the trade since 1 May 2016.

The judging panel will be assessing the entries based on design, packaging, functionality, value for money and saleability.

The London Stationery Show takes place on Tuesday 25 – Wednesday 26 April at the Business Design Centre during National Stationery Week (24-30 April). For further information click here to go the London Stationery Show website and click here to visit the National Stationery Week website.