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NSS Booth Design Stories
Oct 05, 2017
Written by Sarine Badelian
Filed under frankies girl, frankies girl designs, National Stationery Show, new stationery, NSS, NSS2017, Stationery, stationery addict, stationery geek, stationery press, Stationery Show, trade show, wholesale, wholesale stationery

NSS Booth Design Stories

It was an absolute privilege (and a complete surprise) to be contacted by the National Stationery Show to talk about how we set up our booth. I think I actually replied back to say, 'Has there been a mistake?' as although we didn't do too badly for being two deers stuck in headlights when it came to trade shows, I was still unsure as to why our little booth was picked out of the incredibly amazing exhibitors that were on show.

Being a first timer, with a smaller budget than most, I used this resource myself (by reading about previous exhibitors experiences) to gain insight as to how to go about preparing for the show. We had no real idea about the logistics involved, the building of the booth and how to bring it all together to create a little haven for our brand. We soon came to realise that even with the best laid plans, sometimes things do go wrong and you need to be prepared to go from Plan A to B and even C.

It was an amazing experience, a huge learning curve and a strength building exercise I feel so humbled to be a part of. Huge thanks to NSS for including a little known stationery business who travelled all the way from Sydney in this round up.

Read about how our booth came together, alongside a few other wonderful exhibitors here:

http://www.nationalstationeryshow.com/…/new-exhibitor-reso…/

xoxo

My Christmas has come early! Trade Show Press from NSS 2017
Aug 03, 2017
Written by Sarine Badelian
Filed under beautiful paper, booth1464, Business, cards, Career Goals, Creative, dailydoseofpaper, design, Fearless, frankiesgirl, frankiesgirldesigns, Girl Boss, Goals, Greeting Cards, Lettering, National Stationery Show, New York, NSS, NSS 2017, NSS2017, NYC, paper, paper goods, small business, Stationery, stationery geek, Stationery Show, Trade, trade show, tradeshow, wholesale

My Christmas has come early! Trade Show Press from NSS 2017

(Featured image by Nole at Oh So Beautiful Paper Blog www.ohsobeautifulpaper.com)

When I sent an invite to Nole from Oh So Beautiful Paper blog to visit me at booth 1464, for the Frankie's Girl debut at the National Stationery Show this year, I did not expect her to visit. Well with something around 800 exhibitors (I don't actually know the real figure, that's possibly incorrect) I thought surely I'd be missed. Saying I was a little over the moon when we met in person (at my booth!!) is a complete understatement.

A couple of months later, she has posted a blog of new exhibitors from NSS 2017. See it here:

http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com/2017/08/nss-2017-new-exhibitors-part-2/

And guess who's been included... EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE with a capital M :) See it here:

http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com/trade-shows/frankies-girl-2017/

A couple of snapshots from the site:

I seriously can't contain my excitement and somehow feel like this must have been a mistake. Well I'm taking it!! Huge thanks to Nole for my inclusion, you are an inspiration and because of your blog I have aspired to create beautiful things, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, but the journey is and will always be the best experience.

xoxo

National Stationery Show NSS 2017
Apr 14, 2017
Written by Sarine Badelian
Filed under booth 1464, booth1464, cards, concrete jungle, design, entrepreneur, frankiesgirl, frankiesgirldesigns, Girl Boss, greeting cards, National Stationery Show, New York, New York City, NSS, NSS2017, NYC, show, small business, Stationery, Stationery Show, Trade, tradeshow, United States, women in business

National Stationery Show NSS 2017

On Easter Sunday it'll be exactly a month before we leave for the bright lights of New York and get ready for our debut at the National Stationery Show 2017 (WOOHOO!!!). Frankie's Girl will be exhibiting at Booth 1464.

The National Stationery Show (NSS) is a yearly event held over four days - this year it's from the 21st to the 24th of May at the Javits Center in New York. The event showcases products from the paper and giftware industries.

From the site itself:

"The NSS attracts a diverse global attendance of buyers and industry professionals from stationery, card and gift shops; bookstores; bridal shops; party stores; department, chain and specialty stores; large chains and “big box” mass retailers; online retailers and mail order catalogs; as well as special event planners, corporate marketers, importers, distributors and manufacturers’ representatives."

Clearly it's a big deal for those who work within one of these industries and definitely the biggest deal of my career to date. It started with sheer distress (considering that I applied for the show with only a handful of greeting card designs and only a couple of months to get a decent collection together). There were a plethora of emotions that ran through me, added to that some anxiety, depression, doubt, sleepless nights... laying in bed wide awake at 3am wondering what I'd gotten myself into... ah fun times!!! Within all this commotion, I somehow managed to pull it all together and get it - or most of it - done. I'm not completely there, but the finish line is definitely in sight.

Now all the tension is turning into complete excitement and I'm relieved that I have taken the chance, pushed myself and my work, physically and emotionally to a level that I'm happy to show off. It's ok to be proud of yourself once in a while right? Damn right!!! (Tap on the back time!)

The thing is, I've dreamt of attending this show as an exhibitor for so many years. However, life seemed to always get in the way... or maybe that was just my own doing (highly likely)... Not feeling that my ideas were good enough for the multitude of talented stationers out in the big wide world was not the greatest feeling to endure as a creative. But one of the most important lessons I've learnt and I am constantly reminded of in this life, is the need to believe in yourself. You are highly capable. You are strong. You are worth it. Now go get 'em!!!!

What's that saying? If you love what you do, you won't work a day in your life... well I love it, so planning to keep this party going for as long as I can. For the moment I am waiting on the next lot of my cards to arrive from my very patient printers, putting together the catalogue and finalising the last bits and pieces I need before we jet off.

Farewell for now and see you at the show!!

Frankie's Girl xoxo

For those attending the show come see us (Sarine and Frank) at FRANKIE'S GIRL BOOTH 1464. For those you aren't attending I will keep you updated on instagram (frankiesgirldesigns) of what we get up to in NYC :)