Wholesale Stationery

Despite living in a digital era, the demand for stationery items remains high in schools, offices, and homes.

The US stationery and office supplies industry ensures this demand is met by supplying retail stores with a variety of stationery products like:

• Office supplies: Staplers, binders, labels, envelopes, notepads, etc.
• School essentials: Pens, markers, highlighters, rulers, erasers, etc.
• Art materials: Canvas boards, colored pencils, crayons, paintbrushes, etc.

These products primarily fill the shelves of supermarkets, specialized stationery shops, and general merchandise stores.

4 Reasons for Retailers to Enter or Expand in this Sector

Growing market

This report shows that the global stationery market stands at $26.06 billion in 2023, with projections of reaching $39.32 billion by 2033.

And the US alone contributed a substantial $6.6 Billion in 2022. 

This growth can be attributed to the:

• Rise in educational institutions and startups
• Increasing interest in art and craft activities in both schools & homes

These numbers hint at a promising future for those in the stationery business.

Back-to-School Demand

Every year, K-12 graders require new stationery items for the upcoming academic year, especially between late July and early August.

This annual spike isn’t limited to basics (pens, pencils, and notebooks), items like backpacks, art supplies, etc. also see increased demand.

You can leverage this by offering promotional deals or discounts.

Bulk Purchase by Consumers (for convenience)

Many consumers prefer buying stationery items in bulk, even if it means paying retail prices. They opt for many rather than picking up a single pencil or notebook.

By doing this, they avoid the hassle of running low on essentials and making frequent trips to the store.

This buying approach is not just convenient for them but also benefits retail stores. 

With customers buying more each time they visit, it can mean increased sales and higher transaction values.

Diverse Customer Base

Whether it's students prepping for school, professionals organizing their workspace, hobbyists indulging in DIY projects, or artists seeking quality craft materials and tools — stationery appeals to all.

Offering a wide array of products ensures that you can cater to the diverse needs of all these customer segments.

Popularity of Smart Stationery Items

Technology and innovation are influencing stationery products to become smarter and more efficient.

Retailers looking to stay ahead of the curve should consider updating their inventory with smart stationery items such as:

Magnetic Sticky Notes

Modern consumers are ditching those old yellow stickies for magnetic notes that use static charges instead of glue — to stick to almost any dry surface.

Moreover, they are reusable — perfect for notes, reminders, messages, task visualization, mind mapping, and more.

Smart Reusable Notebook

A smart notebook is a digital alternative to traditional notebooks as it allows users to store their handwritten notes online.

Plus, it is reusable and comes with a special pen that can be easily erased, reducing paper waste.

3D Printing Pens

These rechargeable pens allow users to draw three-dimensional objects. Instead of traditional ink, they use a heated plastic filament to form various shapes.

Kitting Technique Can Boost Sales Of Your Stationery Business

Retailers in the stationery sector can benefit from kitting (a technique used for bundling complementary items into a single package).

By selling product bundles/kits, you can:

• Streamline your inventory with a single SKU per kit
• Provide value for money to the customer
• Increase your average order value (AOV) and sales

For instance, consider a stationery kit that includes 2 pencils, 2 erasers, 1 sharpener, 1 ruler, and 1 glue stick.

Instead of searching and purchasing each item separately, customers get the convenience of a ready-made pack, saving them time.

Additionally, product bundling can reduce marketing costs as you’ll be promoting a single package rather than each product individually.