For the purposes of this report, the UK Stationery market is defined as consisting of the following key product sectors:-

 

 Ø    Writing & Drawing Instruments – disposable & refillable pens, roller ball, ball point, calligraphy, fountain, propelling pencils, refills, felt tips / markers, technical use pens, crayons/wood pencils/pastels/charcoal.

Ø    Paper & Board - Uncoated & coated paper and board for graphic, writing, tracing, copying, printing etc in rolls and cut sheets, letter cards, plain postcards and correspondence cards of paper or paperboard.

Ø    Envelopes – window / non window, pocket, wallet, peal and seal, press seal, gummed seal, twin gummed, excluding padded bags.

Ø    Notebooks & Registers - registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, diaries, notepads and similar items, exercise books, blotting-pads, sticky / repositionable notes, binders, folders, file covers etc.

Ø    Other Desk Items - Fittings for loose-leaf binders or files, staples, letter clips, letter corners, paper clips, plastic / metal trays.

 

The above products are defined as manufactured for use within commercial or domestic environments, with primary applications being corporate offices, domestic use, SOHO (small office / home office) etc.  The definition excludes products used for gift wrapping / greeting cards etc and in manufacturing for use in other applications (e.g product labelling, packaging, newspapers etc.)

 

In addition, the definition also excludes any associated labour activity, with market sizes provided for the material cost only, at retail selling prices.  As such, activities such as overprinting, printing / typesetting, etc are excluded. 

 

Key distribution channels which are primarily involved in the supply of these products include wholesalers, office superstores, mail order, high street stores & stationers, retail multiples, printing companies, direct supply etc. A share for these key channels is provided later in the report. 

 

Given the wide range of products included and the large variety of end use application sectors, there are clearly some complexities in terms of market definition, and therefore quantification.  The figures provided in the report should be regarded as our best estimates based on a wide range of primary and secondary research, and should be regarded as such. 

 

The UK Stationery and Writing Instruments market in 2007 is currently estimated to be worth just over £2.56 billion in 2007, as illustrated below:-

 

UK Stationery & Writing Instruments Market by Value £m 2002-2012

 

 

The stationery market has remained under pressure for some time, both in terms of average selling prices and volume demand. In 2007, the market is forecast to reach a value of around £2.56 million at retail selling prices, reflecting a nominal decline of just under x% in value since the 2006 value of £xx.x million.

 

The relatively positive market performance witnessed in the mid - late 90s has not been replicated in recent years, with the market having increased only marginally since 2002, by around x% in value terms.

 

There are a number of factors which are and will continue to dampen market value growth opportunities for stationery products, primarily linked to rising raw material costs, the continued threat of lower cost imports, threat of substitutes and the development in the market of a growing number of retailers focused on the lower value end of the market.

 

As such, trade sources indicate that significant rises in market value are unlikely in the short to medium term, despite greater optimism in terms of volume growth. Prospects at present therefore are suggested to be lacking significant optimism, with the market value likely to remain relatively static in the medium to longer term at around £x.x billion.

 

The paper / board sector in 2007 is currently estimated to account for around xx% of the total market in 2007, reflecting a value of around £x.xbillion at retail selling prices. Envelope products are the second largest sector accounting for just under one fifth of the market or just over £xxx million by value.

 

The pads / notebooks sector, which is comprised of a large variety of products, is estimated to contribute around xx% of the total market value in 2007, reflecting a value of around £xx million.

 

The pads / notebooks sector has experienced some share gain in recent years, having generally outperformed the market relatively consistently.

 

The writing / drawing instruments market is currently estimated to account for around 8% of the total UK stationery market in 2007, reflecting a market value of around £200 million. This sector can be further segmented into a number of different products.  The ball point sector is estimated to represent the largest of the market in 2007, reflecting just over one third by value at around £xx million at retail selling prices. The second largest sector in the pens market is the higher value fountain sector, with felt tips / markers also accounting for a similar share of the pen market.

 

Roller ball products are generally regarded as more ‘mid–market’ products and are estimated to be worth just over £xx million in 2007. Crayons and wood pencils continue to dominate the ‘non-ink’ writing instrument sector, with a market value in 2007 estimated at around £xx million.

 

There are also a number of other products within the writing instruments market, for a variety of different applications.

 

The largest channel for stationery sales are the multiple and independent specialist stationers, who are currently estimated to account for around xx% of the total market in 2007. Whilst the independents are generally focused on higher value products, the multiple retailers such as Staples, Rymans, Partners etc have tended to offer more competitively priced products in recent years.

 

The high level of competition in this mature market continues to impact on the distribution of stationery, with the multiple retailers tending to opt for higher volume / lower value strategies. The developments into this sector by the grocery multiples in recent years has continued to hinder market performance, and sources indicate that other high street companies such as book retailers may also be seeking to develop their position in this market to some extent in the near future.

 

The nature of the market, in terms of the wide range of different products, means that the wholesale channel remains significant, supplying to independent retailers etc, though within this channel, sources indicate that the promotional stationery market has not performed as well as has been the case in the last few years.

 

Developments in technologies such as portable data storage, mp3 players etc., has dampened demand for stationery products in the promotional / merchandising sector - a channel which has generally underpinned demand for pens, pencils and associated stationery for printing personalised logos etc.

 

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