Australian Newsagency Blog

If you’re ever in the UK, be sure to check out a Ryman the stationers store.  This stationery chain has an excellent local small-store format.  As I have blogged here before, the stores feel local, independent – right down to the handmade (using a rubber stamp) business cards they have at the counter (very clever).  It is only when you visit several in a day that you can see the corporate foundation of the business.

I understand the difference in retail in the UK to Australia, especially in comparing London to Melbourne or Sydney.  Back home we have space and tend to drive more to shop – hence the proliferation of larger format stores in the stationery space - Officeworks, Ofis. 

The Ryman offer is fascinating, partly because of the stock they fit into a small space.  On first glance the stores feel cramped and therefore difficult to shop.  Soon, you feel so surrounded that there must be something here to buy.  I like the cramped feel.  It oozes range.  I’ve certainly some away from today with some ideas.