The 68th Annual signature mix Marketplace was Stirring with Attendees

From Sunday, May 18 through Wednesday, May 21, New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was stirring with attendees for the 68th Annual signature mix marketplace, the nation's leading market for the social stationery industry and related lifestyle gifting. The tangible, savable, giftable pieces that were on display here bring meaning through words and design, and some of these brands are truly on the cutting edge of design. In an era of online communication and detached conversations, the stationery and greeting card industry is thriving, and you can look no further than the signature mix marketplace for proof.

Through three sections — Creative & Lifestyle Arts: tool , kits, embellishments and supplies for every creative pursuit; Gift>it: design-driven gift and lifestyle accessories, decorative objects, toys and more; and the National Stationery Show: greeting cards, invitations, paper products, and prints — the signature mix marketplace brought exciting change, including a partnership with Etsy Wholesale. It's the perfect marriage, really. Etsy represents the idea that a gift, an item, a piece of stationery becomes that much more special when establishing a relationship with the artist crafting it. The Etsy Wholesalers were sprinkled across the show floor and were some of my favorite booths.

At first glance, it was no surprise that the show was experiencing a refreshing revival, with experimental introductions, product rollouts, and beautifully designed booth layouts. The Javits Center was a buzz. In fact, the National Stationery Show experienced a 31 percent increase in attending stores for the event and featured nearly 800 exhibitors and some 11,000 attendees.

Trending throughout the show were bespoke desktop items, greeting cards with a Southern charm, Design-It-Yourself packs, travel-themed accessories and prints that are taking a cue from interior décor, elevating the home to a place of text-heavy design. Take a look back at our Market Trend Report we produced for readers following Day 1 of the show. In that report, we also mentioned a renaissance born from Pinterest and Etsy, inspiring buyers to take a step back from the modern commercialism and carefully select products with a homemade, arts-and-crafts feel.

Another incredible piece of the signature-mix-marketplace puzzle was their 18th Annual Best New Products Awards. Along with other industry specialists, we had the opportunity to judge nearly 500 exhibitor entries in various categories based on the innovation of product design or concept, how the product answers a specific industry need, the aesthetic appeal, the creative use of materials and the innovative packaging. Eight signature mix marketplace exhibitors were honored with the Best New Product Awards, and we were thrilled to take part in awarding such deserving companies.

Best of Show: Party Partners for their Mini Cake Decorating Kits — each kit made of paper, twine and wood picks, contains 5 cake toppers and mini flag bunting.

Luxury: Someday Designs. Their Gold Foil Luxury Stationery Set, available in several designs/color choices, as well as special order hand calligraphy for personalization, really impressed the judges.

All Things Wedding: Galison/Mudpuppy for their Wedding Party Photo Props, a personal favorite of mine. Keeping up with all wedding photo booth needs, these props are entertaining, adorable, and bring art into an everyday item.

Celebrations: Party Partners (again!) for their Mini Cake Decorating Kits.

Eco Chic: Thimblepress for their Eco-Friendly Push-Pop Confetti, a festive way to celebrate while being environmentally responsible. Not only is Thimblepress a letterpress studio, it's also an art studio, a woodworking studio, a sewing studio, a design studio, and anything these Jackson, Miss.-based girls want to try their hand at next.

Lifestyle: Twigg's Bindery for their In Rainbows Box Set, a dramatic façade of the box set, which captures the eye and imagination, making them an exceptional addition to any shelf.

The Desktop: Emily Ley. A personal favorite, Emily Ley's The Simplified Planner was designed by Ley to intentionally bring joy and simplicity to the lives of busy women. And does it ever.

Do It Yourself: Little B's Designer Cutting Dies allow the user to mix and match shapes and inserts to create endless possibilities, made especially for the DIY audience.

Paper Love: Pink Orchid Press for their Connect the Dots Collection — letterpress printed on fluffy cotton paper in scarlet red and midnight black inks.

These brands, products and companies all represent the heart of what the stationery industry strives for. Constantly producing fresh designs with the efficiency and functionality that consumers look for, these products embody the best of what was new this year, and from our editors' eyes to yours, we believe these are sure to fly off the shelves.

Check out NY Now's most recent Newsletter to get the latest information from them.

eWeekly Newsletter - Special Edition from signature mix Marketplace

Live From the signature mix marketplace!

We're on the air (web) this morning live from the signature mix marketplace to bring you the first market update with trends and highlights from the show.

Through just one thoughtfully designed product in the stationery industry, a buyer's thought process alters from what can this purchase do for me, to whom in my life will this purchase most affect? These are tangible, savable, aesthetically admirable pieces on the cutting edge of design that have the gifting power of communication. In a detached era of emails and texting, the stationery and greeting card industry is thriving, and you can look no further than the signature mix marketplace for proof.

The booths of stylized typography and whimsical creatures letterpressed to greeting cards were packed. And buyers were reeled in by bespoke desktop items. These pieces are taking a cue from interior décor and elevating the home office to a place of comfort and productivity. The renaissance born from Pinterest and Etsy has inspired buyers to take a step back from the modern commercialism and carefully select paper goods and products with a homemade feel. Furthermore, personalized and design-it-yourself items were aspects of the first day of the stationery show that did not go unnoticed, and this arts and crafts movement is even seen at a micro and macro level.

This is our exclusive list of trends and highlights seen at Day 1 of the signature mix marketplace:

Southern Hospitality
Seeping into the gifting industry is this showing of Southern roots. This printing of graciousness and warmth through Southern phrasing was particularly prominent stamped on greeting cards and frameable prints. From an emphasis on Southern food and drink, to the appreciation of land south of the Mason Dixon line, Dixie had quite the showing at this market. Names To Remember: Belle & Union, Water Knot, Southern Food Design Barn, Stephanie Creekmur.

Design-It-Yourself
Despite living in the age of technology—or maybe because of this—buyers were flocking towards the DIY packs of products that provide consumers with the tools, templates, stickers or cutouts they need to visit their creative side. Names To Remember: Sn@p, Anna Griffin, Emily McDowell

Party Packs 
In the perfectly staged, beautifully filtered world of Instagram, the pressure is on for hosts and hostesses everywhere to throw an impeccably trendy and decorated shindig. These on-the-go party packs were everywhere this season. From pop-up food trucks to ready-to-set-up candy stations, these are party go-tos. Names To Remember: Talking Tables, Party Partners, Gartner Studio, Rock Scissor Paper.

All That Glitters Is Gold 
Gold accents are here to stay. From glittered banners and gold foil-wrapped notebooks to gilded pencils, all that glitters is gold. Names To Remember: Theresa Collins, Sugar Paper LA, Ecolo, Kate Spade New York for Lifeguard Press.

Home is Where The Heart Is
Exhibitors were making a hometown statement this year with travel-themed accessories. Decorate the office with mapped prints or show your birthplace love with cards and stationery that define geographical bias. Names To Remember: Matrick and Eve, Everything Little Miss, Belle & Union, Rock Scissor Paper

Doggy Day Care
Pet-lovers rejoice! Dog breed stationery, décor accents and greeting cards are getting dressed up, literally. These doggy-themed products are putting on the ritz, and buyers were especially favorable. Names to Remember: Lydia & Pugs, Oh Deer .com, River Dog Prints.

Follow Your Arrow
The Native American motif has made its way from home décor to stationery and gifting products, and its beautifully linear design was showcased in booths across the show. Names To Remember: Fletcher and Fox, Three Potato Four, Pleased to Meet