It's Stationery Store Day!
Small stationery stores are actually magical. Here's why.
Happy Stationery Store Day!
Yes, I’ve been a little quiet on Substack lately (again!) but what better reason to return than with a love letter to one of my favourite places in the world - my local independent stationery store, Stash World. I’ll be spending part of Stationery Store Day there!
Stationery Store Day is like Record Store Day, but for notebook nerds and pen fanatics. It’s a worldwide celebration of small, independent stationery shops and the communities that love them, held every year on the first Saturday in August.
I yap about it all the time, but just in case you didn’t know, Stash World is a stationery store based in the heart of Brisbane, run by a seriously awesome woman (hi Jessie!) and her tiny team of fellow sticker lovers. They curate a huge range of stationery both in-store and online (including their own in-house sticker offerings) support local artists, and provide a haven for stationery lovers in south-east Queensland.
As Stationery Store Day rolls around again (though this will be my first time attending one in person), I’ve been reflecting on what makes stores like Stash World feel so special, and why I think they deserve to be celebrated.
If you’ve got your own local treasure of a stationery store, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment to shout out your favourites around the world - hopefully you’ll help some new folks find new places to shop too!
The magic of a well-curated space
There’s something extraordinary about walking into a shop where every item has been handpicked with care and experience. Stash World isn’t about trends or bulk-buying - it’s about quality, possibility, inspiration, and nostalgia. Whether you’re looking to start a bullet journal, hunting for a unique gift, or just browsing for a sticker you didn’t know you needed, you’ll find something that speaks to you.
And if you don’t know what you’re looking for yet? They’re the kind of place where you can say, “I want to start journaling, but I don’t know where to begin,” and someone will actually help you figure it out — without judgment, pressure, or upselling. Just genuine enthusiasm.
A community, not just a store
One of the biggest joys of Stash World is the community that gathers around it. Every fortnight, I attend an in-person meet-up (our beloved “Stash Hangs” where we bring our journals and projects, share supplies, and talk shop (in the most literal sense). There’s something deeply grounding and joyful about making things in a room full of likeminded stationery lovers, especially in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelmingly digital. I’ve made some incredible friends there, and I know we’re incredibly lucky to have this community. If this sounds like your dream, I’d suggest looking into stationery meetups near you - if there aren’t any, maybe you can be the one to start one in a cafe or library!
Stash World also run regular workshops, and I’ve had the pleasure of teaching a few myself. One of my favourites was a collaborative “adventure journaling” session we built together, inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and decision-making dice rolls. These workshops aren’t just about learning techniques - they’re about making space for joy, experimentation, and play.
Treasure hunting for paper people
I can’t write about Stash World without mentioning their “Stash Treasures” section - a curated collection of long-lost stationery finds: dead-stock items, out-of-print gems, and rare tools unearthed from the corners of thrift shops and the depths of eBay. It feels a little like opening a time capsule every time you browse, and I’ve found some truly irreplaceable favourites this way. Jessie often shares her epic finds on her TikTok - like this time she bought 9000 Disney Tarzan stickers. It’s always an adventure! A lot of my recent favourite silver chain and Celtic knot style stickers (as seen in my August Mystery Journal setup) came from the Stash Treasures trove!
Why Stationery Store Day matters
It’s easy to think of small shops as just another option in a world where we can get everything delivered overnight. But indie stores like Stash World offer something that algorithms and warehouse shelves never will: heart, connection, and deep, thoughtful curation. They’re the keepers of creative culture, the champions of slow living and tactile expression, and a vital part of local community life.
So this Stationery Store Day, I’ll be heading back to Stash World - not just to shop (though I’ve got a list, don’t worry), but to celebrate what they represent. If you have a store like this near you, I hope you’ll consider popping in (or logging on), saying hello, and supporting them. And if you don’t - maybe today’s the day to start looking for one.
New Videos
The first of two videos sorting through ALL the stationery I own and paring it back to ONLY what I want to keep for future use. It’s a long one, grab a beverage first! Watch here!
I’m spilling my secrets in this video - sharing the three layout cheats I use over and over to make my journal spreads look good, especially when I’m out of ideas. They’re easier than you’d think! Watch here!
Still keen for some August journal inspo? Here’s a sweet and soft coquette theme - including some of my favourite foraged Stash Treasures. Check it out here!
Recent Reads
Any Ashley Poston new release is an immediate must-read for me - and this gorgeous story just proves she’s one of the best! Always a romance story first, with a magical twist - our musical protagonists are somehow in each others’ heads, and must write their way out of mind-reading by composing a song together. Dreamy, sweet and a touch heartbreaking - I couldn’t recommend Sounds Like Love enough for hopeless romantics like me!
Until next time,
May your pens glide smoothly, your notebooks lay completely flat, and your local stationery shop always have just the thing you didn’t know you needed.
xx
Erin
The adventure journaling session sounds brilliant! Did you cover it in any of your videos? I’d love to hear more about what it involved 😊