83 RETAILER INTERVIEW kits and artwork made from pencils and pencil shavings. What brands do you currently stock? Are you looking for any new products or styles? We stock most of the major brands that we’re all familiar with but we’re most proud of all the independent and ecofriendly start-ups that are producing wonderful stationery products in countries all over the world, as well as from the UK. What’s selling particularly well at present? Like most retail, seasonality plays a big part in sales and as we’re learning it’s very important to be a few steps ahead in order to be prepared. Beyond the seasonal, the most consistent sellers in our shop are items that make the home office or workspace more enjoyable to use. Curating the Modern Desk is our tagline and we do well in this category. Finding the right pen, notepad or notebook, datebook or diary, tape dispenser and stapler; all of these everyday tools need to be enjoyable to use and also look good on your desk. What hobby or new trend are you currently excited about? As mentioned above, a health and wellness podcast (the seventh most listened to podcast in the UK) recently had an episode stressing the importance of journaling. It cited three basic morning questions and three basic evening questions to write down and answer each day. Even if the answers were merely one sentence long. Lead TIN can help with this! Do you visit any trade shows? We do. We’ve met so many amazing distributors, product innovators, printmakers and artists who have now become our regular providers for many years. Trade shows and social media are good places to source new products, as well as comments and recommendations that we receive from our customers, which tend to be the best source. Are you active on social media? How is this useful for the business? Instagram, Tik Tok and Pinterest are the keys to success in e-commerce. We interacted frequently with our followers by showing them our shop display, limited edition stationery, new in-shop, etc. Although we’re not extremely ‘clicksdriven’, the reels and posts we created have brought in a lot more attention than before. It’s all about sharing and finding the right stationery or art supplies for our customers. Do you have any plans for the future of the store? We’ve hosted artist run workshops in the past and hope to continue with this going forward. There’s a huge demand for this in all age groups and across the media spectrum. Do you have any tips for people looking to start their retail venture? Listen to your customers, they’re a wealth of information and ideas. What’s the one product you couldn’t live without? Our weekly to-do list planner pad. LEAD TIN 36 Webb’s Rd, London SW11 6SF https://lead-tin.com
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