Junebug Ink at Stationery Fest: Three Days of Paper, People and Pure Joy
Some events you attend. Others become memories you carry with you. For Junebug Ink, Stationery Fest 2026 was definitely the latter.
When we announced that Junebug Ink would be exhibiting at Stationery Fest for the first time, we were excited. We knew we would be joining an incredible community of stationery makers, artists, retailers, and enthusiasts. We knew we'd have the opportunity to introduce our cards and other paper goods to new customers. And, of course, we were excited to unveil our exclusive Enchanted New York boxed note card collaboration with artist Gavin Benjamin.
What we didn't know was just how warmly we would be welcomed.
After three extraordinary days at Industry City in Brooklyn, we can say with complete confidence: Stationery Fest exceeded every expectation.
And we are so grateful.
Our First Stationery Fest—and What a Welcome
From July 30 through August 1, Junebug Ink joined more than 10,000 stationery lovers for three days of discovery, creativity, shopping, workshops, conversations, and community.
Our booth, H-12, became a little home base for card lovers, curious shoppers, longtime Junebug Ink customers, retailers, fellow vendors, artists, friends, and people who were discovering the brand for the very first time.
And what happened over those three days was truly special.
People stopped to look.
They picked up cards.
They read the recipes inside.
They laughed.
They shared memories.
They told us about the people in their lives who would love a particular card.
They introduced us to friends.
They came back with more friends.
They bought stickers, tea towels, notebooks, notepads, greeting cards, and boxed note card sets.
And, most importantly, they connected with what Junebug Ink is all about.
Never have we ever been so warmly welcomed by so many people.
Stationery Nerds Are the Real Deal
We came to Stationery Fest knowing that we love stationery.
We left knowing that stationery people are our people.
There is something wonderfully joyful about being surrounded by thousands of people who can get genuinely excited about paper, printing, typography, illustration, envelopes, notebooks, stickers, pens, greeting cards, and all the little details that make a beautifully designed piece of stationery special.
We discovered that stationery nerds are the real deal—and Junebug Ink is proud to be one too.
The enthusiasm was infectious.
Visitors didn't simply walk through the festival looking at products. They wanted to know the stories behind them. They wanted to meet the people who created them. They wanted to talk about what they collect, what they write, what they send, what they save, and what they give to the people they love.
That kind of enthusiasm is incredibly affirming for a small creative business.
It reminded us that stationery isn't just about paper.
It's about connection.
Cards With Content—and Conversations With Meaning
One of the things we love most about Junebug Ink is watching people discover that our greeting cards are more than greeting cards.
We call them cards with content because there's a story behind every one.
Our cards draw inspiration from Black American culture, family traditions, music, food, history, nostalgia, humor, and everyday moments. Some include recipes. Others feature playlists, cultural notes, or historical context.
The idea is simple: We want our cards to be worth keeping.
At Stationery Fest, we had the opportunity to explain that philosophy over and over again—and the response was incredible.
Someone would pick up a card, read it, and say, "Oh, I love this."
Then they'd read the inside.
And the reaction would often change to, "Oh! This is really special."
Those moments are why we do what we do.
Because the best greeting cards don't simply deliver a message.
They become part of the message.
A Festival Full of Junebug Ink Favorites
We brought plenty of Junebug Ink favorites to Stationery Fest, including our newest luxury greeting cards, best-selling designs, nostalgic and sentimental stickers, tea towels, notebooks, notepads, and boxed note card sets.
It was so much fun watching people browse the collection and discover their favorites.
Some shoppers immediately gravitated toward our cards. Others fell in love with our stickers. And more than a few people discovered that they had found the perfect gift in one of our tea towels or boxed note card sets.
For us, seeing these products move from our display into people's hands—and eventually into their homes and the hands of people they love—was incredibly rewarding.
The Enchanted New York Debut
One of the biggest highlights of Stationery Fest was introducing our exclusive Enchanted New York Limited Edition Boxed Note Card Collection, created in collaboration with acclaimed artist Gavin Benjamin.
The collection was developed specifically for Stationery Fest and inspired by the festival's Enchanted New York theme.
It was thrilling to finally share something we'd been working on behind the scenes.
And because the collection was exclusive to the festival, Stationery Fest attendees had the first—and only—opportunity to purchase it there.
The response made all the planning, designing, and anticipation worthwhile.
We're incredibly proud of this collaboration and grateful to everyone who brought a set home.
Meeting Customers Is Everything
One of the most valuable things about participating in an event like Stationery Fest is something that can't be measured in sales numbers: face-to-face connection.
As a small business, so much of what we do happens behind a screen.
We design products.
We photograph them.
We write about them.
We post them online.
We package orders.
But there is nothing quite like standing across a table from someone holding one of your cards and hearing why it resonates with them.
At Stationery Fest, we heard stories about mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, colleagues, partners, teachers, mentors, and chosen family.
We learned what people love about stationery.
We heard what they want more of.
We met people who had followed Junebug Ink for years and people who had never heard of us until they walked past Booth H-12.
Every conversation mattered.
And we sincerely hope those conversations don't end with the festival.
Retailers, Makers and New Friends
Stationery Fest also gave us an opportunity to connect with an incredible group of retailers and fellow creative entrepreneurs.
We met independent retailers, museum store buyers, artists, designers, stationery makers, and other small-business owners who understand what it means to build something from the ground up.
These connections are incredibly important to Junebug Ink.
We're always looking for thoughtful retail partners who appreciate beautiful design, quality products, storytelling, and culture—and who want to bring something distinctive to their customers.
We're also excited about the creative conversations and potential collaborations that began at Stationery Fest.
You never know where a conversation over a greeting card can lead.
And Then There Was National Stationery Day
Could there have been a more fitting way to wrap up our first Stationery Fest?
Our final day coincided with National Stationery Day, and we couldn't imagine a better place to celebrate.
We were surrounded by thousands of people who believe, as we do, that handwritten notes, beautiful cards, and meaningful communication still matter.
In a world where so much communication happens instantly and digitally, there is something wonderfully intentional about choosing a card, writing a message, addressing an envelope, adding a stamp, and putting it in the mail.
It says: I thought about you.
That's powerful.
To Everyone We Met: Please Stay in Touch
If you stopped by our booth at Stationery Fest, we want you to know how much we appreciated meeting you.
If you purchased something, thank you.
If you picked up a card and told us about someone who would love it, thank you.
If you introduced yourself, asked questions, shared a story, complimented our products, encouraged us, or simply smiled and said hello—thank you.
And if you're a retailer who stopped by to learn more about Junebug Ink, we hope you'll keep us in mind for your store.
We want to stay connected with all of you.
Follow us on social media. Sign up for our emails. Visit our website. Tell a friend about Junebug Ink. And, most importantly, come back and see what we're creating next.
Keep Junebug Ink in Mind for the Holidays
We know it may seem early to start thinking about the holidays.
But stationery lovers know better.
The holiday season will be here before we know it, and we're already thinking about the cards, gifts, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, teacher gifts, Secret Santa surprises, and thoughtful little something-for-someone moments ahead.
So, to all of our new Stationery Fest friends: please keep Junebug Ink in mind as the holidays approach.
If you discovered a card at the festival that made you think of someone, come find it again.
If you loved our stickers, tea towels, notebooks, notepads, or boxed note card sets, keep us on your holiday shopping list.
And if you're a retailer planning your holiday assortment, we'd love to talk with you about carrying Junebug Ink.
The holidays are the perfect time to slow down, write something meaningful, and remind someone that they're loved, appreciated, remembered, or missed.
We're here to help you do exactly that.
Power to the Paper People
Our first Stationery Fest experience gave us something we didn't know we needed: a bigger stationery family.
We came to sell cards.
We left with new customers, new friends, new connections, new ideas, and an even deeper appreciation for the wonderful world of stationery.
To the Stationery Fest organizers: thank you for creating such a welcoming and inspiring community.
To our fellow exhibitors: thank you for the conversations, encouragement, laughter, and camaraderie.
To the more than 10,000 stationery enthusiasts who came through the festival: thank you for proving that paper people are very much alive and well.
And to everyone who stopped by Junebug Ink: thank you for making our first Stationery Fest one we'll never forget.
We had an incredible three days.
We were welcomed with open arms.
We found our people.
And we're already looking forward to doing it all again.
See you next year, Stationery Fest.
Until then, keep writing. Keep sending cards. Keep telling stories. Keep supporting independent makers.
And, of course—
Power to the Paper People. ✉️
Stay Connected With Junebug Ink
Didn't get enough time with us at Stationery Fest? We'd love to stay in touch.
Follow Junebug Ink for new product launches, stories, gift ideas, events, and more. And as the holiday season approaches, be sure to visit our shop for greeting cards, paper goods, and thoughtful gifts made to help you say something meaningful.
Because there's always a reason to send a card.
And there's always someone who'd love to receive one.
