I have this theory: people who like books (both readers and writers) love stationery. They like pens and paper and all things found at a stationery shop. This is certainly true of me. Even as a kid I loved getting my book list at the start of a school year. I’d take all my brand new exercise books home and lovingly decorate them. There’s nothing better than opening a new book and writing inside it. Even now I like new pens and notebooks, highlighter pens and Sharpies. Whenever I visit the US I make a point of visiting either Staples or Office Depot or both. This time I came home with a container of pretty paper clips and some special ones in the shape of feet and others in the shape of musical notes. I got really excited with the pink binderclips. What can I say? I love pink! I like exploring the different things. I like the smells in the shop. And I totally loved Staples pick ‘n mix option. I crammed lots of cute clips into my container.
One of my favorite shops in New Zealand is Whitcoulls. They sell stationery, but they also sell magazines, books and DVDs. I visit Whitcoulls just about every week.
Here’s a You Tube of a recent Whitcoulls ad. It’s one of my favorites. If you look closely you can see Whitcoulls packaging about halfway through the ad.
Do you like stationery and stationery shops? Do you covet pens and notebooks, special clips and the like as much as I do? Is my theory right?
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October 24th, 2008 at 1:23 am · Link
Ha! I think I am one of the only women left in the world who own not only engraved writing paper, and not only engraved note cards (postacard size), but small social cards with my and my husband’s name on them. The last are actually fantastic to have; I keep a few in my purse and if I ever need to give someone my number I write it on the back. It’s much easier for people to keep track of, I think, than a slip of scratch paper.
Anyway. I also own two fountain pens and several bottles of ink. I am a stationery FREAK; I visist every office supply place I can and will spend hours there. So I think yes, you are entirely correct! :-)
October 24th, 2008 at 2:48 am · Link
Every Summer I go home and go nuts trying *not* to buy every pen and empty notebook I see. That stuff is outrageously expensive in Italy! (a 70-sheet notebook would be about €3.00 – or nearly $5.00!)
And I was a geeky kid who used to loooooove buying her school supplies every year. I just hated having to to go school to use them. ;)
And am I crazy or what? That advert made me cry a little – so sweet!
(It all looks like something my hubby would do, I guess. )
Ciao!
October 24th, 2008 at 6:52 am · Link
About the only thing that excites me about my hubby being deployed this winter is the fact that I GET TO WRITE REAL LETTERS ON PRETTY PRETTY PAPER WITH SPECIAL PENS! I’m about to spend $10 on a cool pop-up post it note holder for Pete’s sake. So yes, I’m a junkie. Sigh. It’s cheaper than shoes, right?
October 24th, 2008 at 7:16 am · Link
My name is Charlotte and I’m a school supplies addict. I can spend hours walking around Office Depot just looking at the neat goodies. Korea was the capital of school supplies. The neatest pens, notebooks, desk doodads. I had to make space in my suitcase for some of it.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:15 am · Link
While searching for something in a desk drawer the other night, I found three — yes, three! — half-used pads of stationary I had forgotten about. Does that answer the question??
October 24th, 2008 at 9:57 am · Link
Then you’ll understand my depression — yes, depression — over my missing favorite editing pen. The Tour Manager and I remember me moving it before #2′s birthday party a few weeks ago and … we can’t find it.
Depression! Over a pen!
October 24th, 2008 at 11:48 am · Link
Your theory works as far as I’m concerned. I like nice stationery, especially with my name embossed on it.
Loved the video, watched it twice to catch the wrapping.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:08 pm · Link
Stacia – I think engraved cards are a great idea. Those little bits of paper always disappear and get lost.
Ms Menozzi – it’s such a sweet ad, isn’t it? It always makes me smile and the music is great.
Marty – don’t worry. You are not alone!
Charlotte – it sounds like we’d make a good pair. I had to make room in my suitcase for my precious books and paperclips.
Heather – I bet that was an exciting find. I recently tidied out my office drawers and found all sorts of interesting stuff.
Susan – but it’s a special pen. I’d get depressed over losing a special pen. I’d probably mutter a lot too.
Barbara – I love this ad. We have some fun ads playing at the moment. Embossed stationery sounds lovely *sigh*
October 24th, 2008 at 4:40 pm · Link
I love stationary and journals. I could look at journals for hours. I don’t use stationary much anymore, sad to say, since the Internet. But I love journals, buy them by the gross. I rarely use them, though. Oh well…
October 25th, 2008 at 8:25 am · Link
That was so cool:) LOL. Thanks for sharing. And yes, love, pens, stationary, stickies, etc.
October 25th, 2008 at 8:59 am · Link
You know, I used to buy these beautiful journals. But then I found them so pretty I didn’t have the heart to write on them. My handwriting is u-g-l-y.
October 25th, 2008 at 6:59 pm · Link
Yes, your theory is spot on. I LOVE going into a stationery shop and want EVERYTHING….. I have a drawerful of unused pens, erasers, glue sticks, post-its……. and I’ll still buy more. I love Whitcoulls, but also Warehouse Stationery….. especially when they have a sale on and I can justify buying double of everything!!!
October 25th, 2008 at 7:26 pm · Link
Lol, I learned to use a typewriter age 12 and never got near a pen since then if I can avoid it. So no spacial pens, journals and other stuf for me, just a functioning computer and printer, and some plain white paper.
October 26th, 2008 at 12:30 am · Link
Nancy – isn’t it strange how we seem to hoard stationery?
Sandra – pens. I couldn’t resist picking up more at the RWA conference and yet I don’t really need more!
Tempest – I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think, although pristine pages always look so nice.
Sara – I adore Witcoulls sales. It’s such a great place to visit.
Gabriele – LOL – you’re spoiling my theory!
October 26th, 2008 at 1:07 am · Link
I agree with you Shelley – most writers I know luuurrrvvvv stationery. I LOVE stationery. Can’t help it – go into an Office Works and I just want to buy the whole shop. Notebooks, folders, post its, trays, pens (can anyone have too many pens?) … yep I’m a stationeryolic.
Love the ad too.
October 26th, 2008 at 1:51 am · Link
I love stationery too. I really want to get some of those gorgeous pens that glitter when you write, I think they are sooo cool!!
October 26th, 2008 at 11:33 am · Link
your theory is accurate. In my family we have me (an avid reader), my husband (a retired clerk) and my daughter (an unpublished writer) and we all love stationary. We have so many pens/paer etc. we could open our own store :D
October 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pm · Link
Eleni – Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad I’m not the only one.
Christina – I haven’t seen the glitter pens. I’ll have to look for them because it sounds like I’m missing out!
Ilona – LOL Stationery does seems to be an addiction. A nice, harmless one though!
October 26th, 2008 at 9:52 pm · Link
Oh. My. God. A office/school supply support group.
Sign me up!! I have a gaint basket filled with pens and pencils!! I have them in every room!! Everything from a beautiful pen my MIL got for me in Bavaria, and my Calligraphy pens to my most favorite, which is a medium point Bick with blue ink.
Okay, I’ll stop now. You get the idea. lol
I love love love Staples and I have passed my pen fetish on to my daughter. I am so proud that she opens her giant box of Crayolas and organizes them by shade. I used to do the same thing!
Of course that leads to paper- we won’t go there, but Origami…
Love the YouTube!! It is so cute!! hehe
C~
October 27th, 2008 at 12:44 am · Link
LOL Colleen. We stationery lovers need to stick together!
October 27th, 2008 at 1:05 am · Link
Definitely not the only one Shelley!!
October 27th, 2008 at 7:15 am · Link
Oh Shelley, that’s a fabulous ad! And yes I LOVE stationary. I don’t know what it is, but my husband always gets me a new set of notepaper and envelopes for Christmas every year and it’s one of my favorite things!
October 27th, 2008 at 8:54 am · Link
Really funny commercial! Especially the dog with the note on his forehead. I do love notes/paper/books, etc. When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to get all my supplies, just like you. I’d spread them all across my bed and sit and look at them, wondering what I’d be writing in them.
And on that note:
Tag! You’re it!
October 28th, 2008 at 5:59 am · Link
Yeah, I’ve got a thing for stationary. I’ve had it about as long as I’ve loved books.
Love the video!