Profiting from Paper and Pulp

The National Stationery Show was held at the Javits Convention Center in New York from May 19-23. This is one show that I truly look forward to, not only to find great stationery and paper products for gift baskets, but also because I love writing notes and want to see the new, ingenious products that make my mail stand out.

Learning the importance of writing letters and notes was taught to me by my aunt, whom I'm named after. When you send a customer a note that relates to his business or to a vendor who's just received a prestigious award, that person is genuinely honored to receive your message. Not many people take the time to write a few words on paper, so when you do this, the sentiment is taken as a genuine kindness. It opens many doors for you and expands the opportunities for business and personal success.

I chose Tuesday to attend the Show because there was also a free seminar on selling products on eBay. The seminar began with a free lunch. Now who could resist a workshop that fed your mind and body? The statistics and examples shared on how retailers are selling closeout merchandise was astounding. I was amazed to find out that a Corvette listed on eBay sells every three hours, and a piece of clothing sells every three seconds.

As with events held at the Javits earlier this year, the Stationery Show was smaller than usual. There still seems to be some apprehension about exhibiting in New York, or perhaps exhibit money has become scarce due to economic constraints. Whatever the reason, I quickly overlooked this fact and began my search to find the latest items to add to housewarming, pamper, thank-you, and thinking-of-you baskets.

The first hot item I found was a wrapper that's placed around a bottled beverage. It's made from corrugated cardboard and accented with designer tissue paper and raffia ribbon. It's great for wrapping vases, too. Wendy, the company owner, has manufactured over 60 styles to date and has more designs to launch later this year. This product gives an ordinary bottle an upscale look and definitely increases the basket's price.

Another brand new product is a baby bottle label. It's made from a vinyl material and is dishwasher safe. The label is customized with the baby's name and your choice of clip art by running the label through your laser printer or writing on it with indelible ink. This product is a fantastic addition for baby baskets.

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