THE SCHOOL YEAR has only just ended, but it’s never too early to start getting your stationery in for September.
Is there anything worse than facing the masses of frantic mams trying to find their child the perfect pencil case in Easons? Possibly, but it’s still not fun. All of the good stuff is gone if you leave it too late and some nice stationery really improves your willingness to be productive.
Ensure you have the cutest stationery reserved for the summer and upcoming college year by acting now. It may seem silly, but you’ll be the one who’s laughing once September rolls around. Even if you’re not under pressure to buy stationery as school supplies, this list contains some inspiration for the everyday stationery enthusiast.
1. Papergang
You won’t even need to leave the house for this one. Papergang is a subscription service for anybody who is obsessed with stationery. Every month they work with artists to design an original set of greeting cards, notebooks, desk accessories and art prints and send them out to you for just over a tenner.
You can choose whether you want to make a habit of receiving stationery deliveries and sign up for 3, 6 or 12 months or if you just want to try one, you can do it once. They also offer the option to gift them to somebody, so you can treat a friend to one too.
2. & Other Stories, Grafton Street
& Other Stories has everything. Clothes, shoes, skincare, body scrubs, perfume, accessories, make-up but most importantly, some really nice stationery. They also have a bunch of nice stuff for decorating your desk.
3. Muji, Chatham Street
Muji sell a heap of generic products that are simple but still look really good. From endless varieties of acrylic makeup storage to furniture, to clothes, to textiles to beauty products, it’s hard to believe they fit it into their little shop on Chatham Street.
The first thing you notice when you walk into the shop is their huge selection of multipacks of pens and pencils. All of which are quite satisfying to write and draw with.
They also sell some cool desk accessories like handheld shredders and the desktop pencil sharpeners that Americans use on TV all the time, if you’re too good for a regular old parer.
4. IKEA, Dublin
No introduction is necessary for what is either your favourite shopping experience or worst nightmare.
If you’re there during the summer picking up BBQ equipment or redecorating, what’s the harm in getting a few bits for September and saving yourself the trouble having to face the queues again in a few months.
5. Søstrene Grene, various locations
Søstrene Green stores have been popping up everywhere over the last year. With stores in Pavilions, Blanch, Dun Laoighaire, Belfast, Athlone and Cork, it’s worth checking out if only just to see what the stationery offerings are. Some of them are as cheap as 56c.
6. Penneys
During the Celtic Tiger, people would treat every nice garment that came from Penneys as a treasure. “I can’t believe that’s from Penneys.” “You WON’T believe where I got this!” “That’s soo good for Penneys!”
Nowadays though, it’s really not a surprise to hear about Penneys being responsible for something really cool, whether it’s clothing or stationery. It is now just expected.
7. Paperchase, Arnotts
Whether you want something as garish as a collection of tropical flamingo copies to brighten up your work or something as sober and neat as a brown ‘list book’, Paperchase has something to offer you.
8. Tiger
Tiger rarely lets you down when it comes to desk organization and stationery. They have everything. A lot of the products are seasonally themed, for example – this travel stationary. There are checklists for packing and a bunch of other summery designs.
It’s actually impossible to go into Tiger for any reason and not end up with stationery.
9. Seven Wood, Dawson Street
If you’re on a big budget or looking for a fancy gift for someone, this is the place to go. This furniture shop sells small gifts downstairs and they’ve always got fancy things like gold fountain pens and other impressive stationery products, like fancy Italian notebooks.
