This year’s Thirty Under 30 group has been revealed by Julia Faiers, editor of Stationery Matters, and one of this year’s judges.

She said, “Our first Thirty Under 30 competition last year demonstrated there is no shortage of young people with the motivation and talent to drive our industry forwards.  The second Thirty Under 30 builds on this, proving stationery’s future is bright.”

Entries could nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague and were asked to demonstrate their passion for their business and products, as well as show creativity, innovation and commitment to their role.

The judges chose 30 young people from across the breadth of the industry who they felt encapsulated the spirit of the awards, from entrepreneurs with a ground-breaking new product, to dedicated team workers and bloggers promoting stationery to an ever-expanding tribe of consumer stationery addicts.

The judges were also asked to select their stand-out candidates, stars of stationery they felt shone especially bright.

The ‘Star Choice’ Thirty Under 30 nominees are:

• Cherelle Brown, Founder of Kitsch Noir
• Gemma Bassett, Marketing Manager of Sinclairs
• Jamie Mitchell, Co-founder of Ohh Deer
• Julien Vaissieres, Founder of BATCH.WORKS
• Kaushal Shah, Founder of Paper Plus Europe
• Odin Adargh, Designer and Director at Brahman Ltd

The full list of nominees this year has also made room for one honorary candidate, Jack Fincham, Love Island winner and former sales director of DMG Office Supplies.  His enthusiasm for stationery and pens boosted exposure for the industry over the summer and he has been spotted discussing the latest stationery trends on ITV’s This Morning and taking part in a stationery Q&A for Paperchase, so his positive contribution to the industry has been recognised!

Judges:

Dominic Irons – director of Bureau Direct, an award-winning online stationery retailer.  With a background in both art and IT, he brings an unusual mix of creativity and data to the table.  Dominic’s main focus is to manage the strategy and marketing of Bureau Direct.  Originally set up in 1995, Bureau Direct has been online since 2003 and has established a name for sourcing unusual and exciting new stationery trends whilst offering unusually personal customer service.

Simon Stone – managing director of Stone Marketing Ltd, the largest distributor in the UK for luxury writing instruments, stationery and design-led gifts.  He has worked in the stationery industry for over 37 years and was responsible for setting up Montblanc in the UK in the 80s.  Stone Marketing, a family business which Simon founded in 1989, has worked with Japanese stationery brand TOMBOW for almost 30 years, and Faber-Castell, Pelikan and Caran d’Ache for 20 years.

Julia Faiers – is the editor of Stationery Matters and has worked in the stationery industry since 2011, first as social media marketing manager for the London Stationery Show and National Stationery Week and then as editor of Stationery Matters magazine.  She writes the biweekly Stationery Matters newsletter and was a judge for the inaugural Thirty Under 30 competition in 2017.

Thirty Under 30 – Class of 2018 *Star Choice

*Odin	Adargh	Designer & Director	Brahman Ltd
Holly	Allen	Marketing Brand Manager	Pukka Pads 2000 Ltd
Monique	Basil-Wright	Founder, Designer	The Wright Planner & Stationery
*Gemma	Bassett	Marketing Manager	Sinclairs
Sarah	Boyle	Blogger	Stationery Magpie
*Cherelle	Brown	Founder	Kitsch Noir
Gabi	Cox	Founder and CEO	Chroma Stationery Limited
Andy	Dorman	Managing Director	Biz+ Stationery Superstores
Bonita	Ebuehi	Founder, Designer	Bonita Ivie Prints
Callum	Edwards	Digital Marketing Manager	Prima Software
Emma	Farley	Blog Founder	A Cornish Geek
Tory	Fox-Hill	Founder, Owner	Fox & Moon Ltd
Kirstie	Gilleade	Founder, Illustrator	Mayblossoming
Lara	Gioppato	Product Developer	Stationery Island
Imanina	Hamzah	Founder, Designer, Maker	Not Only Polka Dots
Jess	Howell	Founder, Designer	Rumble Cards
Margaux	Lefaucheux	Key Account Manager	AF International
*Jamie	Mitchell	Co-Founder	Ohh Deer
Katie	Noakes	Founder, Calligrapher, Designer	London Calligraphy
Jacob	Peatfield	Founder	High Meadows
Charlie	Reid	Sales Manager	Egan Reid Stationery Co Ltd
*Kaushal	Shah	Founder	PAPER PLUS EUROPE
Dan	Shorthouse	PR Executive	Small Man Media Ltd
Lucy	Spence	Illustrator, Publisher	Lucy Maggie Designs
Georgie	Sturge	Graphic Designer	Pukka Pad
Joseph	Thomas	Assistant Onboarding Manager	Prima Software
Sian	Towner	Art Worker	Castelli
*Julien	Vaissieres	Founder	BATCHW LTD
Teresa	Vera	Director, Designer	Pepper and Cute
Jack	Fincham	Love Island Winner & former Sales Director	DMG Office Supplies