Field Trip: Insights X Stationery/Trade Show 2016 in Nuremberg @InsightsExpo

I was recently invited to attend the Insights-X Stationery Trade Show in Nuremberg as a blogger! The view from the Press Center in Insights-X below was quite a sight. Of course, we had to have a selfie or two.

First thing: thank you so very much to the kind team for making my attendance possible, as well as to the ten companies that presented to us the bloggers during the tour. Thank you as well to all the companies that took the time to address questions and allowed me to sample their new products! I look forward to many of the new goodies I saw, and can’t wait to see them in stores. In addition to a wonderful experience, we were also granted the opportunity to meet fellow bloggers - Tessa (All Things Stationery), Matthias (Bleistift), and Dries (The Pencilcaseblog), amongst others (SBREBrown). This team spent quite a bit of time together and it was so much fun to get to know each other.

The Insights-X trade fair for paper, office supplies, and stationery took place in Nuremberg from October 6 - 9, 2016. This giant show was organized by Spielwarenmesse eG, and they were also the kind people who invited myself, Stephen, and a few other awesome bloggers to attend their first Blogger Event on Saturday, October 8. Spielwarenmesse organized accommodations for bloggers, at a location that was near the city centre, so outside of the Insights-X, I was fortunate to be able to experience this beautiful city as well.

Every year in the autumn, leading brand manufacturers and other suppliers of all sizes meet at the new Stationery EXPO with qualified professional visitors and decision-makers. Developed with the industry, Insights-X offers first-class opportunities for ordering. It provides know-how and shows trends in the office, school and hobby categories for the business year ahead.

Insights-X was held in the Nuremberg Messe, taking up three huge halls, with 270 exhibitors representing from 33 countries, with exhibitor displays up by 44% from the previous year. I can’t even imagine what next year will be like as the Insights-X trade fair continues to grow! These companies attend to showcase their newest products in six fields: Writing Utensils & Equipment, Paper & Filing, Artistic & Creative, Desktop, Stationery & Gift Articles, and Bags & Accessories.

The difference between the Insights-X and a pen show is one cannot make purchases at the trade fair - this is about exploring, interacting with companies and exhibitors, getting to know people, and getting a taste of the new goods coming out. If you are a retailer, this is an ideal time to explore new products to add to your company line up. If you just enjoy stationery, this is a lot of fun to attend with fellow stationery lovers!

In addition to the three halls, there were many hands-on experiences - hand lettering, pixel painting, folding Buntboxes in your favourite colors, making buttons, and much more. With four days and exhibitions going on through out the day, there was the opportunity for a lot of fun. Trying to pick between eye candy and try candy (hands on stuff) is tough.

The blogger event consisted of a tour of ten companies: Faber-Castell, Undercover, Zip It, Yzea, Brunnen/Schneider, Goldbuch, duo Schreib & Spiel, Hama, Stabilo, and Staedtler. Obviously, I enjoyed Faber-Castell, Stabilo, and Staedtler the most. I have individual posts with several more pictures of these exhibitors coming separately. We were presented new products (and some goodie bags) during the tour, so I took many pictures of the ones particularly of interest, hence the coming individual posts. The organizers also considered that some of us don’t speak German, and they arranged a lovely (and hilariously fun) German to English translator for the tour, and we had dinner together as well (Hi Schylon!).

Faber-Castell

Tessa coloring at Under Cover

Zip It - with cases made from ONE long zipper!

YZEA

Brunnen/Schneider

Goldbuch

Duo Schreib & Spiel

Hama

Many of the gifts were geared towards young children, so Stephen and I donated some of our kid stuff to a new friend with a six year old boy. I'm happy it has all gone to a good home and will be loved to pieces! Other items, we have kept for review and giveaway.

Aside from this, we explored the show a little before and after the tour!