If you missed part one of this series, which covers Joie Studio’s experience during the months leading up to the National Stationery Show, then you can find it right here.
Today, we pick up at show central, the Javits Center, where the Joie Studio booth crate has arrived, along with Tina and the rest of the Joie Studio crew. Let’s see what surprises await them during booth setup and the show itself.
Booth Setup
How did your pre-show booth setup go? Any big surprises, or did everything go as expected?
The big surprise came when we arrived and one of the sides of our crate was literally hanging on by two screws. Nothing was damaged inside luckily. Brad from Maginating donated some screws to us to help us fix the crate, which was great. Other than that, we had absolutely no troubles setting up the booth. My friend Brian who lives in the city came by to help Candie and me set up, which was so so helpful. Our walls and furniture came together quickly, thanks to the dry run that we did before the booth walls and furniture left Pasadena for New York. Brad was also there to walk us through the more nuanced things that honestly I wouldn’t have known (like the fact that everything that was trash needed to have a trash sticker on it).
What was going through your mind as the doors opened for business on the first day of the show?
You know, it’s funny. We got there an hour early to do last minute prep on our promotional materials, and I don’t think I realized that the doors had opened for business. I was chatting it up with Shelley from Albertine Press when I realized there were buyers walking around. Shelley was funny, though, and told me not to worry. “It’s raining. It’s Sunday. Between rain and brunch, it won’t pick up until 11am.”
Joie Studio’s Finished Booth
What was your favorite thing about the show? Least favorite thing?
I loved meeting everyone, fellow exhibitors, buyers, designers, students, press, just everyone. There’s just such a great social aspect to the National Stationery Show. The hours, though, are pretty rough. I got there at 8:30am every morning and the show goes from 9:00am to 6:00pm every day, except for the last day, where it goes until noon, and then exhibitors have to break down immediately after the show ends. Those days are extremely long days.
What are your overall thoughts about the show from a first time exhibitor’s point of view?
I really enjoyed being a part of the show. I got to meet so many great people and made great contacts. I got to introduce Joie Studio’s letterpress goodness to a national audience, and that in itself was so exciting. It’s a tiring marathon-like trip to the National Stationery Show, and I really feel you have to work hard to get out what you want from the show, especially the first year when buyers are unsure of you.
We’ll be wrapping up Joie Studio’s first year at the NSS on Tuesday, so tune in then for insights about Tina’s post-show experience!
images from Joie Studio
