Ah, the smell of a new journal… Stationery lovers know this familiar scent. It’s enough to stir up any hidden passion to start a stationery business. If this is you, then here is your sign to turn the page and start a new chapter in your entrepreneurial journey. Here’s how.

The mere number of projected growth is encouraging to anyone considering opening a stationery store. Research has shown that the compound annual growth rate of 3,4% between 2023 and 2029. This translates to R 13,4 million by 2030. Globally, the diaries and planners market is worth $1,15 billion!

An interesting driver in this industry is the characteristics of the buyers. These individuals fall into one of two categories, namely users and collectors.

Stationery users: Users prioritise purchasing the basic necessities – they only buy what they need.
Stationery collectors: Collectors, on the other hand, derive a deep sense of pleasure from stationery and would be willing to spend on the higher-end ‘wants’, not just cheaper ‘needs’

Other driver is curated spaces and aesthetic-driven lifestyles. Brands are seeing an increase in premium items, be it luxury pens, custom calendars, cute desk accessories, matching sets of staplers and desk caddies, personalised notebooks and unique sticky notes.

Type of Stationery Business

There are various types of stationery businesses. Some specialise in the design of branded products, custom paper products, or distributing well-known brands. Here are the types of businesses you can consider.

• Reseller: A reseller is someone who offers all kinds of products from other brands. This can include selling Parker and BIC pens to staplers, envelopes, and thumbtacks, to name a few.
• Designer: A designer is someone who focuses on developing their own branded products and offers them for sale in their shops or as a service. This can be someone who either has their own shop like The Papery, or a designer who specialises in wedding invitations, for instance.
• Print-on-demand: A print-on-demand stationery business is usually coupled with a printing shop, or at the very least, this entrepreneur has good relationships with someone from a printing company.

One of the great advantages of a stationery business is that you don’t need to have a physical storefront. Instead, there are options of online stores or online marketplaces.

If you are a reseller, you must investigate the best prices for wholesale stationery. You can develop strong relationships with your suppliers to determine you negotiate lower prices for your inventory.

If you are a designer or offer print-on-demand services, you need to consider the type of printing you require for your stationery as well as the type of paper. Research where you can obtain these and make sure that you are satisfied with the quality.

Set up Your Business

A business plan is vital as it always keeps the business on the right course. Your business plan needs to include:

• Your niche and target audience
• Market research
• Products and pricing
• Budget, ongoing expenses, and startup costs
• Sales channels
• Marketing strategies

You will also need to register your business according the the business structure that you have chosen

During this process, you will be prompted to register for taxes with the regulator. It is recommended that you also take this opportunity to create a business bank account. For this to succeed, you must already have a business name.

Next, order the necessary inventory you need to have, or create a list of services.

This vital step is creating the groundwork for sales.

For a brick-and-mortar store, identify a rental property where you can set up your business. Ensure that you don’t go over the budget you set out in your business plan.

For an online store, you can identify the best website host for your e-commerce store and choose the package that suits your business goals. Once you have your website set up, you can load your products and start selling.

If you choose to go with a marketplace, ensure that this aligns with your audience.

Market Your Business

When you market your business, take into consideration that you use the right channels. This could be ensuring that your physical store has the correct type of branding, or that you build a client database to send e-mails to about your latest products and offerings.

Additionally, utilise all your social media channels to ensure that your ideal client will be present on.