The Digital Impact and Latest Stationery Trends

Business sectors that adapt never die. Stationery products are part of an adaptive technology that has retained some and added some products while none seem to have become extinct.

From a very limited product line, the stationery list has grown fourfold as it has adapted to become innovative and modern. Some of the products have not changed but they have become more modern in look and feel and conform to the latest trends. Trending is as strong an asset as an emerging technology for product demand in any sector. Even a range pushed to near extinction by a new entrant can sustain itself in the market by artistic look and feel.

Designs go out of trend and have to be revamped using designing skills and printing technology for the consumers who are constantly desirous of something trendier. Hence stationery manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors down the line are well aware of what to manufacture and what stocks to invest in. The digital age has revolutionized product usage and communication. While new technology-based products are experiencing growth all over, the age-old standard products have not become erstwhile. They have adapted and become trendier to thwart extinction.

Things have changed as to how we communicate it has gone digital with the reduction in prices of laptops, PC, smartphones, and tablets. The internet availability at faster speed and lesser cost has made most of those responsible for business communication go online. Even personal communication is being carried online by most consumers. Nevertheless, old habits die hard and people still love to communicate through letters, greeting cards, and notes. Thus, the stationery products retain their status albeit growth post-2016 has been slow at CAGR 2%.

The global industry is valued at 24 billion USD in 2021 in spite of the disastrous impact of the pandemic, and it is forecasted to reach 30 billion USD by 2031. The market share is held majorly by Asia and North America to the tune of 62%. In spite of digital transformation, paper stationery is being used extensively in schools and colleges. The growth at 4 % CAGR is being sustained by the extensive emphasis on school education in India and China.

The addition of newer technologies within the scope of stationery products is nothing new. Manufacturers and stationers are focusing on a wide spectrum range of items that could be marketed under their channels and these items are not only paper-based they conform to electronics and electricals, in short, but the range is also much more diverse than before.

The bleak does not end here and physical records kept by the industries in spite of digitalization is a sustaining factor that is adding a robust demand. Surprisingly the demand for files, folders, pencils, pens for the age-old paraphernalia is still robust in the industrial sector.

Design customization, promotional marketing, and personalization of communication products through innovative designs and printing is keeping the industry alive and kicking.

The promotion of marketing campaigns on digital media and TV is being done through printed propaganda materials extensively. Thus, it is difficult to surmise that digitalization has eliminated traditional stationery-based advertisement products like leaflets, paper hoardings, and other paper-based propaganda materials.

As a matter of fact, new venues are opening for paper-based printed products due to information technology expansion. People are looking favorably towards paper-based food packaging materials everywhere. Paper products are not like plastics which are health hazards and are not biodegradable. With growing awareness about the intruding climate change and increasing carbon footprints, fresh food deliveries are being packed in the printed paper by mega fast-food chains like McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken to name a few.

Even the demand for pens stands at 12 billion USD this is due to the demand by millennials. The variety of introductions are sustaining growth that stands at 5% thanks to innovative presentation, colored inks, and varied stylus. This stands true for pencils as well. Thus, round the corner stationery seller is still experiencing demand. The product range has experienced transformation and not obliteration due to the surge in electronic communication that digitalization has made popular all over the world.

Uday writes often on Indian wildlife especially about the tigers. He works as a naturalist and is fond of travel. Uday also provides search engine optimization service and website contents in English.