If you’re looking for a fun and profitable side hustle or, even better, a full-time job, stationery might just be right for you! In this blog post, we’ll show you how to start a stationery business from scratch.
And guess what? We’re throwing in some of our most ink-credible stationery designs and mockups to kickstart your new journey! ✏️😊✨
By the end of this blog, you’ll have the knowledge and inspiration to launch your custom stationery business confidently. Let’s start this exciting adventure together!
✏️ Let's Dive In
- What Is Stationery?
- Stationery Industry Overview
- Pencil It In: How to Start a Stationery Business
- 💡1. Discover Your Perfect Stationery Niche
- ⭐ 2. Dive Into Your Market and Size up the Competition
- ✏️ 3. Register Your Stationery Business
- 🌈 4. Create Your Ideal Stationery Brand Identity
- 🤓 5. Select the Best Place to Sell Your Products
- 🌟 6. Curate Your Selection of Stationery Products
- 🖍️ 7. Design Your Stationery in a Pen-Tastic Way!
- 🤑 8. Set the Perfect Price for Your Stationery
- 🚀 9. Promote Your Stationery Business
- 📐10. Monitor Your Progress and Performance
- Last Words on How to Start a Stationery Business
What Is Stationery?
For starters, let’s talk about what stationery includes. Also known as office supply stores, this industry offers a wide range of paper-related goods, such as brochures, business cards, greeting cards, thank-you notes, invitations, calendars, notebooks, art prints, planners, and more.
Moreover, stationery covers all the essential tools and materials needed for writing, drawing, and organizing information, along with various office supplies and accessories.
Thanks to its broad market size, the stationery market offers various niches to explore and specialize in. (We’ll dive deeper into this later on!) 🖊️📔✨
Stationery Industry Overview
Curious about the profitability of the stationery business? Well, you’re in luck because it’s still going strong! 💪 The worldwide stationery products market reached USD 140 billion in 2023, and it’s only expected to grow in the next 5 years.
Sure, there may be some big players in the stationery game, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for new and innovative businesses (like yours), especially in the world of personalized stationery. Instead of mass-producing generic items, you can differentiate your brand by offering personalized stationery that speaks directly to your customer’s unique needs and preferences.
And here’s a tip straight from the stationery trends report: consumers are increasingly drawn to eco-friendly stationery products. They’re looking for items that reduce plastic usage, are biodegradable, and implement sustainable recycling practices. By embracing these trends, you can not only meet customer demand but also make a positive impact on the environment.
Pencil It In: How to Start a Stationery Business
Now that we’ve got a grasp of the stationery essentials, it’s time to dive into the exciting world of how to start a stationery business!
Let’s explore the 10 steps to kickstart your journey in the most paper-fect and enjoyable way possible.
💡1. Discover Your Perfect Stationery Niche
So, you’ve seen how vast the stationery business can be. Like in any other business, trying to cover everything can be a bit overwhelming and lead to failure, especially when you’re just starting out. But no worries! The key and first step on how to start a stationery business successfully is to choose a niche.
💡 What’s a niche, you ask? A niche is a segment of consumers with specific characteristics, attributes, and needs.
Here are the most common stationery niches:
✏️ Writing Instruments
This niche is focused on the tools used for everyday writing and drawing. From pens and pencils to markers and highlighters—you name it! But there’s more! It also includes cool accessories like refills, erasers, and stylish pen grips. Of course, the designs, materials, packaging, inks, and customization can vary according to each business that selects this niche.
📎 Office Stationery
Next, let’s take a look at office stationery! This one’s a big player in the stationery world, commanding over 45% of the market share. With more businesses needing office supplies and the rise of remote work, this niche is booming! Think paper, notebooks, binders, and all the organizational goodies like planners and desk organizers.
🌈 Art Supplies
Last but not least, we have art supplies! This niche focuses on artists and creatives, offering everything they need to bring their visions to life. From paints and brushes to canvases and sketchbooks – this niche offers all creative materials for painting, drawing, or sculpting.
However, you can go further by narrowing down any niche and creating custom stationery. Whether you’re an artist, illustrator, or someone who loves stationery, custom stationery is the way to go. Check out some examples:
Aesthetic Stationery
Digital Stationery
Eco-Friendly Stationery
Kawaii Stationery
Vintage Stationery
Wedding Stationery
The possibilities are endless! But here’s the kicker – aim for a niche that’s not overly saturated or has some gaps waiting to be filled and, of course, that you’re passionate about. That means more opportunities for you to shine! ✨
✨😊🚀 Keep reading Best Print-On-Demand Niches to Get Your Numbers Rising
⭐ 2. Dive Into Your Market and Size up the Competition
Once you’ve selected your niche, it’s time to dive deeper into it and uncover your target audience’s interests, needs, and preferences. Understanding these aspects is crucial for creating products that truly resonate with your customers.
Additionally, part of analyzing your market involves staying updated on stationery industry trends and knowing what materials, styles, and designs are currently popular. This insight will guide your design process effectively.
Further, it’s essential to study your competitors.
- Take a good look at what they’re doing, what they’re selling, and how they’re talking to their customers. You can do this by checking out their social media, searching their website, or using testimonial sites like Trustpilot.
- Figure out what makes them different and see if there are any good ideas you can use for your own business. This also helps you understand what makes your business special. For example, you could offer different designs, use only eco-friendly materials, or provide worldwide shipping.
- Knowing what makes you stand out is key. Think about what you want people to remember about your brand. This helps you set a clear path for your business and how you want it to be seen in the market.
As you can see, an essential aspect of how to start a stationery business involves researching and understanding your target market, industry trends, and competitors.
✏️ 3. Register Your Stationery Business
Registering your personalized stationery business, especially in its early stages, isn’t mandatory, but it can make a significant difference. By registering your business, you’ll safeguard it from the get-go, preventing someone from swooping in months down the line with a similar idea and claiming it as their own.
Check the different business types in the US:
Corporations are owned by shareholders who exchange property, money, or a combination of both for stock in the company. Profits are distributed among shareholders after taxes.
In most states, LLCs allow unlimited owners and offer flexibility in business operations while providing additional protection for investors against liability exposure.
Partnerships involve two or more individuals contributing money, skills, and time and sharing profits among all partners.
If you’re a sole proprietor, this type of business might be the most suitable for your stationery business. Plus, it’s one of the easiest to register for.
✨😊✏️ Pro Tip: To streamline the process and ensure everything is done correctly, efficiently, and smoothly, we recommend enlisting the help of a lawyer or specialist to assist you in registering your business successfully.
🌈 4. Create Your Ideal Stationery Brand Identity
By this point, we hope that your doubts about how to start a stationery business are fading away. So, let’s take a breather and dive into one of the most exciting aspects for any business owner – crafting your brand identity!
Your brand identity is what sets you apart, makes you irresistible, and keeps you relevant to your audience.
It covers everything from your name and logo to your visual style, tone of voice, statements, personality, and values. These elements must work together to create a coherent and cohesive brand image.
Imagine having a retro logo with dark colors and a Times New Roman font – it doesn’t quite mesh, does it? Therefore, your goal here is to ensure everything is aligned with the type of stationery you offer. For instance, if you’re targeting children’s stationery, bright and playful colors would be more fitting than dark and formal ones. 👶✨💛
Now, let’s break down each element of your brand identity:
🏷️ Name
- Your brand's name should reflect what you offer and be catchy, concise, and easy to remember.
- Use Google, Instagram, or Facebook to find out if your desired brand's name is still available and not taken, especially from a competitor that is also in the stationery industry.
✏️ Typefaces
Let’s talk about fonts! Like any other element, typefaces have personalities, so choosing ones that align paper-fectly with your brand and offerings is crucial. Here are some handy tips to keep in mind:
- Ensure that the fonts you select—one as your primary and one or two complementary—match, are legible, and clear. This ensures your text looks fabulous on every surface, whether on a business card or a poster.
- Consider the font style to ensure it aligns with your brand's personality and vibe. For instance, if you're creating wedding stationery, an elegant or romantic font would be the best match for wedding invitations rather than with sportive styles.
- Lastly, choose a font style that stands the test of time instead of hopping on the trend train. You want your brand to remain timeless and relevant, don't you?
🤗 Pro tip: If you’re still mastering the art of font pairing, keep calm! Explore Placeit’s library of designs and logos to discover potential combinations, or dive into our Font Pairing Made Easy: A Guide for Non Designers.
✨😊💍 You might like reading 25+ Wedding Color Schemes You’ll Fall in Love With
🌈 Color Palettes
Buckle up because we’re diving into one of our favorite parts – color palettes! Colors have the power to shape how people perceive our brand, as they carry with them meanings, emotions, and vibes.
To establish the perfect colors for your personalized stationery brand:
- Start by doing some research on colors. Our amazing Colors by Placeit tool is here to help! Explore the meanings and positive attributes associated with different hues, and check out some examples for inspiration.
- Next, jot down a list of the colors that speak to you and see how they align with your brand's offerings, style, and personality.
- Finally, it's time to pick your primary color and create a full-color palette. Tools like ColorSpace can be your trusty sidekick here – just type in a specific shade, and voila! The color palette generator provides you with the best combinations. Make sure to include various secondary colors in your palette for that extra pop of personality and versatility.
⭐ Logo
Your logo is one of the most crucial elements of your branding, as it’s often the first thing customers notice and remember about your business. Here are some tips for creating the perfect stationery logo:
- Decide whether you want a name-based or image-based logo. Not sure? We've got a guide to types of logos, that includes examples, and even a quiz to help you decide.
- Make sure your stationery logo looks good on every surface or platform, from business cards to billboards. Keep your logo simple, avoiding oversaturation or using elements with excessive detail.
- Incorporate the colors and fonts you've already chosen for your brand.
With these tips, knowing how to start a stationery business becomes easier and easier! 🚀🌟
✨ Need some inspo? Check out some fantastic stationery logo ideas:
⭐🤩 To discover all the aspects of your brand identity fully explained, don’t miss How to Create a Brand Identity With Placeit
🤓 5. Select the Best Place to Sell Your Products
Another essential step in how to start a stationery business is deciding where and how to sell your products. The good news is that this step doesn’t require being a rocket scientist—there are only three ways to do it. 😉
🖥️ Online
How to start a stationery business that is digital? All you need is your creativity, a trusty laptop, an e-commerce platform, and a print-on-demand website. With the power of print-on-demand services, you can quickly bring your designs to life and reach customers far and wide. Plus, building an online store is a breeze, making it simple to create, sell, and connect with your audience from the comfort of your own home.
🚀😄 Not sure which print-on-demand site will be the best match for you? Take this quiz to find out!
✏️ Physical
If you’re dreaming of a brick-and-mortar stationery store, go for it! Setting up shop in the real world gives you more visibility and lets customers experience your products firsthand. There’s something special about browsing through stationery goodies in person, don’t you think? 🏬✨
🚀 Hybrid
Why choose between online and physical when you can have the best of both worlds? By opting for a hybrid approach, you can expand your reach and create powerful strategies for different customer preferences. Just remember that juggling both online and physical storefronts may require a bit more work, but trust us – it’s worth it! 🌟
So, no matter which option you choose, the most important thing about how to start a stationery business is finding the perfect place to showcase your stunning stationery creations and connect with your customers meaningfully. Plus, your choice will determine or help you decide which products sell. 🙌
🌟 6. Curate Your Selection of Stationery Products
Now that you’re ready to bring your stationery business to life, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start curating your product lineup.
For this ‘How to Start a Stationery Business’ blog, let’s explore the wonderful world of print-on-demand companies to bring your stationery dreams to fruition. With this approach, you’ll have the freedom to focus on designing your products while leaving the production and shipping logistics to the experts. 😉
If you’re not sure where to start, that’s okay! We’ve covered you with a list of companies offering diverse stationery products. So explore them and then choose the ones that provide the products you want to sell:
💡 Many print-on-demand companies offer a wide array of custom stationery products that have everything you need to start a stationery business. Here are the custom stationery products you can find:
🖨️ Printed Materials
✨ Custom Brochures
👋 Custom Greeting Cards
🚀 Custom Business Cards
😄 Custom Invitations
✏️ Custom Flyers
💜 Custom Postcards
🌈 Creative
🔖 Custom Bookmarks
😄 Custom Stickers
🌟 Custom Wrapping Paper Sheets
✏️ Writing and Note Taking
📒 Custom Notebooks
⭐ Custom Planners
📗 Custom Journals
📁 Organization
📆 Custom Calendars
📋 Custom Clipboards
📁 Custom Folders
✏️😄Pro Tip: It’s recommended to always order a sample of your products. So, ask your selected print-on-demand company. This way, you can get a real-life glimpse of how your designs will look when your customers receive your products. Plus, it’s the perfect way to ensure your creations meet your expectations before making them available to buyers.
🖍️ 7. Design Your Stationery in a Pen-Tastic Way!
By now, you’re probably feeling more confident about how to start your stationery business, but there are still some necessary steps to review.
But no worries 😌, in this step, you can relax as we’re diving into the exciting world of stationery design – one of the favorite parts for many business owners because it’s where the magic truly happens! ✨
As we’ve mentioned before, you have the power to create your designs from scratch or take advantage of amazing tools like Placeit by Envato. We currently have tons of high-quality design templates for all niches and needs. Plus, we even have a special section dedicated to stationery templates.
In our collection, you’ll find all the stationery templates you need to make your brand dreams a reality, including:
Business Cards
Postcards
Invoices
Stickers
Greeting Cards
Journal Designs
Planners
Calendars
Worksheets
But that’s not all – our design templates also offer a wide range of pretty assets for your stationery project, from art prints and flyers to tote bags and t-shirt designs. With easy adaptability, these designs can fit seamlessly into any stationery creation you have in mind.
😊 Explore our stationery bundles to a get cohesive style! ✨
Showcase Your Stunning Designs With Our Stationery Mockups
And if that’s not enough, Placeit also offers professional and realistic stationery mockups to showcase your designs with style. Share them on your website or social media channels to give potential customers a sneak peek of what’s to come or promote your latest items!
🤑 8. Set the Perfect Price for Your Stationery
Another fundamental factor to consider in how to start a stationery business is nailing down your pricing strategy. Before unveiling your fabulous creations to the world, whether online or in a physical store, it’s essential to set up prices.
Start by exploring the competition and understanding the current market prices. Take a peek at what your stationery competitors charge to better understand where you stand. And, of course, don’t forget to factor in your profit margin—after all, you’re in this to make some money! Help yourself with our free online profit calculator to do the math for you.
⭐ Part of how to start a stationery business involves being equipped with the right tools. Luckily, Placeit by Envato has an AI Tools collection to help you boost your brand. Explore what we have for you! 😊🚀
But here’s the thing – pricing isn’t set in stone. Your prices should be flexible and adapt to the dynamic market landscape. So, don’t be afraid to make tweaks and adjustments along the way. Stay updated and pulse on market trends and production costs to ensure your pricing remains competitive and sustainable.
🚀 9. Promote Your Stationery Business
As we near the end of our journey on how to start a stationery business, there’s one crucial step we can’t overlook – marketing! After putting in all the hard work, it’s time to spread the word and ensure your business gets the attention it deserves.
Here are some marketing strategies to help you boost your brand’s visibility and attract a lot of customers:
Dive deep into the world of keywords to uncover the phrases and terms your target audience is searching for. This invaluable insight will help you optimize your content and ensure your business pops up when potential customers search.
Don’t underestimate social media‘s mighty influence! Whether you’re sharing behind the scenes videos, showcasing your latest products, creating educational content, or engaging with your audience, platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are potent tools for building your brand, connecting with customers, and reaching new ones.
Invest in creating top-notch, optimized content that captivates and engages your audience. Whether it’s blog posts, website content, or videos, aim to provide value and entertainment that keeps your audience coming back for more.
Who doesn’t love a good email? Use this powerful tool to share sneak peeks of upcoming products, offer early bird promotions, or keep your audience in the loop about all the exciting happenings in your stationery world.
By implementing these strategies, you’ll not only learn how to start a stationery business, but you’ll also be well on your way to establishing a successful one.
📐10. Monitor Your Progress and Performance
This is our final step on how to start a stationery business (we did it! 😄) Once your stationery business is up and running, remember to always monitor it.
If possible, keep a unique document to add relevant information, such as insights, client behaviors, industry trends, and customer feedback, among other aspects you consider essential for your business. By following this process, you’ll document many aspects that might help you in similar situations, as well as adjust prices, designs, products, etc. You’ll also learn more about your customers’ preferences and your brand’s health.
But that’s not all – don’t forget to keep tabs on your business statistics to measure your performance over time. For example, you could track website traffic, purchase trends, social media growth, and customer reviews. This comprehensive view of your business’s health will provide invaluable insights into what’s working well and where there’s room for improvement, allowing you to adapt your business strategy as it evolves.
Last Words on How to Start a Stationery Business
And there you have it—we’ve reached the end of our stationery adventure! We hope that by now, you’re feeling confident and equipped to tackle the question of how to start a stationery business.
While the journey may have twists and turns, it’s totally worth it to start creating a profitable business that is yours. But remember, building a successful stationery business doesn’t stop here. It requires vision and commitment to continuous improvement. So, good luck, and be sharp as a pencil! ✨😉✏️
✨😊 📐Keep reading: Personalized School Supplies to Add to Your Shop and Design Your Branded Stationery.
