Seven Trends for ‘07 — Look out for these winners on the show floor!

More often than not, trends fizzle and turn out in hindsight to have been merely fads. But then there are those that strike a special cord and end up sticking around for season after season, developing and deepening in fresh directions as they gain ground in new markets. I’m putting my money on these lucky seven to have enduring appeal.  

Going Green: It’s not just a color, it’s a way of life. Yes, as gas prices rise and “An Inconvenient Truth” sets into the American psyche, consumers are slowly beginning to live simpler, use a bit less, and make a big difference in a myriad of small ways. Retailers are getting involved too. Stationery is ripe for this movement, since perhaps nowhere is the amount of waste generated more apparent than with paper. As a result, there’s no shortage of talented vendors that have introduced “green” lines.
(Vismara Invitations )

Alpha Moms: She’s educated, tech-savvy and kidcentric.  She’s also got money to spend. “She ignites markets,” said Michael Silverstein, consumer guru at Boston Consulting Group. “She’s a hyperactive purchasing agent.” Appeal to her with products that make her day — everything from personal list-making, to clever hostess gifts, to reminding family members of important dates — a bit easier.
( Chatsworth  Collection)



Love those links! As a design motif, chain link is appearing on a myriad of product categories including tabletop, bathmats, shower curtains, pillows, fabric, wallpaper — the list goes on and on. Why the newfound popularity? It’s fun, fresh and surprisingly glamorous. At one moment it evokes a bunch of Chanel chains; at another, the cool clean links of a polished belt or purse strap.
(Boatman Geller )

Get real! You know that when Hallmark unveils a line with greeting cards for people just out of rehab, social discourse in our country has loosened up a bit. Buyers are looking for cards that are more ‘real.’ Cards dramatically run the gamut in terms of their approach to this new honesty, but however they do it, expect designs that are unexpected and fresh.
( Connexxions, Inc.)

Partyware goes posh — and gets clever: When it comes to parties, hosts and hostesses are looking to set their shindigs apart. Coming to the rescue is a motley crew of product including reusable table settings and place markers; extra-special favors that will be kept long after the party ends; paper patterns that mimic their porcelain counterparts; snacks that are as stylish as the hosts; and themed invitations with extra pizzazz. Cocktail napkins — a hot category in its own right — get bonus points for being as funny as they are stylish.
(Thinkspot, Inc. )

Florals, meet patterns: Despite their natural beauty, when they’re adorning stationery, florals need a bit of extra punch to stand out from the rest. Taking a cue from the worlds of interior design and fashion, this means patterns such as stripes or polka dots are incorporated into the mix. This is often combined with eye-popping color combos you’d never find in nature.
( C.R. Gibson Co.)

Letterpress endures: Here is a trend that is simply not going anywhere  anytime soon. It is really the creative designers that keep letterpress fresh for an adoring public by infusing their own sensibilities onto the category. Expect letterpress to assume a permanent, well-earned position next to engraving or thermography in the pantheon of printing methods.
(Albertine Press )

If you want to learn more on my take on what the future holds for stationery, please come to my Product Trends seminar on Sunday, May 20 at 10 a.m. I’ll touch on these seven winners and a whole lot more. To register and learn more, visit www.nationalstationeryshow.com.