national stationery show recap part 1

we just got back from the 2008 national stationery show in new york, and i've got to say, we're pretty tired. it's always fun to go, even if we have to get up at 4am everyday (effectively, since we're on west coast time --oh come on, we can whine a little). anyways, we love the vibe of the show, and are excited to see our friends, stores and meet new people. not to mention, there is just a wealth of talent out there, and it's just great to see this being exhibited all around us!

some of the people we've talked to at the show have said that it was slower in terms of traffic and orders this year. we noticed this to some extent on the first day, but the second and third days definitely made up for it with some exciting new orders, reorders and potentials.

overall, we're glad we went. it's always a rush to be there, though we would rather have it in vegas, since it is infinitely easier to have a convention there (for ALL parties involved). i mean, think about it -- hotels, transportation, entertainment, flights, space, cost, food, etc. etc. -- true, new york is the hub of design and i love the vibe of the city, but c'mon -- how expensive is it for someone to set up a nice booth here? how much does it cost for a hotel in new york compared to vegas? how hard is it to travel 6 blocks on a bus through times square after the show ends (around rush hour)? just ask around and you'd see how many people would prefer a convention-friendly city to this logistical nightmare. vegas was made for big shows like this. i bet you'd see much more elaborate exhibits and many more people (creatives and buyers alike) attend than you currently would.