Craft Focus - August/September 2024 (Issue 104)

10 Stabilo announces new distribution partnership with Asda Leading European manufacturer of pens, pencils, and other writing instruments, Stabilo, has announced a new partnership with Asda to stock its range of high-quality stationery. This exciting development marks a significant milestone for Stabilo as it expands its retail presence. Shoppers can now easily access Stabilo’s popular products from vibrant highlighters to precision pens, ensuring they have the perfect tools for school, office, and creative projects. Stabilo will now be stocked in up to 462 Asda stores nationwide, along with being available for purchase online. This new partnership marks Stabilo’s move back into grocery stores and a look into the future plans of the brand as it looks to expand it grocery partnership network. Current stockists of Stabilo include independent retailers and news, books and convenience stores. Shahbaz Khan, Market Director UK/Ireland at Stabilo, says: “We’re absolutely delighted to announce our partnership with Asda, one of the UK’s leading retailers. This collaboration not only enhances the availability of our high-quality products but also underscores our commitment to making Stabilo’s vibrant and creative tools accessible to a broader audience. By working together with Asda, we’re taking a significant step forward in our mission to bring colour and creativity back into everyday life, inspiring people of all ages to express themselves through our innovative and diverse range of stationery products. We look forward to a successful partnership that benefits our customers and enriches their creative experiences.” For further information, visit: www.stabilo.com JPS Stationers wins Pentel merchandising prize Ray Williams of JPS Stationers in Chesham, Buckinghamshire is the winner of the trade competition associated with Pentel’s #PassionForPens campaign, which launched during National Stationery Week. In the campaign independent retailers could apply for special sample packs containing Pentel’s new Mattehop gel pens, a quick-drying EnerGel pen, a photo and a piece of blank paper. They were required to announce the availability of the free packs on social media and encourage their customers to come into store and request a set - which also gave them the opportunity to enter a competition to win a bundle of Pentel products worth £100. The winner of the consumer competition also won for their retailer a Pentel merchandising package featuring an EnerGel floorstanding display unit and a Mattehop counter display. The consumer competition required entrants to use their award-winning Mattehop gel pen to deface the photo in the sample pack in an amusing and entertaining way and write a caption for it on paper using their EnerGel pen. Thanks to the creativity of his customer Lauren Crick, whose winning entry entitled ‘The King and his Jester’ delighted the independent judge, Ray won the Pentel trade prize package. Receiving his prize from his Pentel representative, territory manager John Cotterell, Ray commented, “I’m thrilled to win the Pentel EnerGel and Mattehop merchandising units, containing products which are sure to be popular with my customers. We had a fantastic response to Pentel’s #PassionForPens campaign, and I’m really pleased that Lauren’s entry was considered the most creative by the judges.” Pentel marketing manager Wendy Vickery said, “Once again, our customers embraced our National Stationery Week activity with enthusiasm and we’re so grateful for their support – not only during this important time, but throughout the year. By working together, we can deliver successful campaigns that enhance end-user awareness and provide new business opportunities for retailers. Congratulations to Ray, whose customers produced some fantastic and entertaining entries!” For more information, visit: www.pentel.co.uk

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