STATIONERY CLUB
Written by James Ward
Over on Twitter, I’ve been chatting to @wowser about an idea for a thing called Stationery Club.
I’m not entirely sure who @wowser is, if I’m entirely honest. I think I first started following him when I saw him talking to David Quantick about Avalon by Roxy Music (it is my favourite Roxy album, and I believe Quantick and Wowser feel the same way).
Stationery Club is not my idea, it is Wowser’s idea.
At present, Stationery Club exists as a #hashtag; once a month (I think it’s once a month, maybe it’s once a fortnight), Wowser asks people about their favourite item of stationery. Everyone tags their replies with the hashtag #stationeryclub and a nice conversation flows between total strangers online.
However, I want to take it further. I want to make it real. Make it physical.
I see Stationery Club as similar to a book club. People meeting once a month (or fortnight, or week, depending on demand – I expect it will be monthly) and, rather than everyone discussing the book they have just read, they discuss the pen they have used. It wouldn’t always need to be a pen, of course, it might be index markers, or a mechanical pencil, or a new type of paper clip. The point is, before each meeting, one member would nominate a piece of stationery, and then all the other members would use it for a week or so and then it would be discussed by the group. There could be group outings to Ryman.
The location wouldn’t be anything fancy. Just a pub somewhere in Central London. A Sam Smiths pub, nice and cheap. I think it would be brilliant.
I suspect the reality would just be me, sitting on my own in a pub, holding a pen and sobbing. This is what I do most evenings anyway, so if anyone wants to join me, please do.
I’ve also created a Stationery Club Flickr group.
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JAMES WARD: I LIKE BORING THINGS 
I expect it will be yearly….
It might actually work though. I got over 100 memebers to my Facebook Group: Under Sink Cupboards!
I’ve just joined.
Oh James Ward what have you done?
The first rule of Stationary Club is that you don’t talk ab… oh never mind.
Count me in.
Any chance you could get Theo Paphitis in as a guest attendee? Or perhaps do a an in-depth interview with him for Stationery Club?
He may also be able to recommend a REALLY good Rymans to visit; Chichester branch is a bit pokey.
#stationeryclub
Regardations, Debbie
According to the Ryman website, the very first branch of Ryman was on Great Portland Street, where there’s still a branch to this day. Whether or not this means the branch is on the same site, or if a branch opened somewhere else on the street is unclear. I have heard RUMOURS that the branch was slightly further up the road (where Maplins is now).
This is a club I would consider joining but I fear my extreme views about the Rotring Rapidograph range could upset people.
I would also need to travel 260 miles to attend club nights but that is not so big a problem.
260 miles isn’t that far, not now everyone has their own teleporter.
Rymans? When the London Graphic Centre is available?
Already, I think a divide is forming within the #stationeryclub community. I have very conservative tastes, mainly limited to black ballpoint pens. Others have more exotic tastes. It is, however, this tension which makes #stationeryclub so dynamic and vibrant.
i support this idea wholeheartedly. i have boxes upon boxes of stationary and i love each pen, pencil, marker, biro or otherwise in there. i also have some wickles post-it notes and my stapler is very nice indeed..
An unrequested one word commentary on the Mexican stationary scene: booming. The small town I’m in has a whole street dedicated solely to stationers: I visited one today to buy two medium binder clips that had a staff of seven and 15 different models of set square.
Regards
Jimbaud
Nice idea, but I fear there would be no end of confusion with your Stationery Club and the more established idea of a Stationary Club.
I’m sure the Stationary Club would be horrified by the invasion of people who were not stationary – let alone brandishing pens, pencils, protractors etc. as they move around.
I’m not worried. The Stationary Club isn’t going anywhere.
This pub has a civilised function room called ‘The Library’. Seems a suitable place for discussing fountain pens.
http://www.pubandbar-network.co.uk/pubs/pubphotos_london_bayswater%20%20paddington_the%20victoria_functionrooms_355.html
I think they reserve the room for no charge for groups wanting it in the evening if you will eat and drink.
It’s worth bearing in mind for the future, once Stationery Club is established and has a devoted following. I’m not sure I want to book a room for the first one though in case no-one turns up.
I’d move back to London for this!
I would arrange my days off accordingly and travel into London for Stationery Club meetings…..what a wonderful idea!
I just searched “Stationary Club” online because I want to join a hobby club and stationary is something I’m very interested in. So there is definitely demand :P
However, London is a bit far to go once a month lol
I just purchased both stationery books you wrote. I am an owner of a company whose roots go back to 1913 making paper clips in New York. We still have some of the original machines and I love paper clips. I would love to talk to you, we were featured in a book by Henry Petroski, The Evolution of Useful Things. Love to talk to you!
Hi James,
I’m getting in touch from an award winning production company in London as we are producing a series of Shorts for Channel 4. Shorts is a little different to the average Channel 4 series – they tend to be between three and seven minutes long with energy and humour. For this we are looking into the unique and aspirational world of people and their hobbies – I definitely think the Stationery club is a potential and would love to chat with you. Perhaps I could give you a quick call and tell you a little more? alternatively I can be reached on either of the contacts below.
Best wishes,
Sara
Producer
Ponda Films
Mobile: 07792386754
Switchboard: 020 7401 2555 Ext: 718
Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London SE1 7NQ
sara@ponda.co