Archive for Random Announcements
2013 Rhodia WebPlanners
Friends, your voices have been heard.
We are manufacturing a 2012-2013 Rhodia WebPlanner academic edition in pocket and large. They will be available in black or orange covers.
We are also bringing back the orange cover for the 2013 calendar year edition. 
The academic year editions will begin to ship to retailers in early May; calendar year by mid-June.
We are completely sold out of the large 2012 WebPlanner….right down to the two samples we had in the office!
If you want the planner of your choice, please see your retailer early in the season.
Stephanie will host some WebPlanner raffles when they roll off the presses so stay tuned!
Rhodiarama Rhodia
A couple of people have written to us asking when Rhodiarama Rhodia will be available in the US. 
Rhodiarama Rhodia is a new product for 2012 – it basically 15 colored versions of a pocket Webbie. Colors include: black, chocolate, taupe, beige, anise, turquoise, sapphire, iris, purple, lilac, raspberry, poppy, tangerine, orange and yellow. The paper is 90g, and the size is 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ or A6.
You can see them on the French Rhodia website here.
Here’s the biggest reason we are not carrying them now: they aren’t made yet. What you see on the French site is a prototype.
We expect the manufacturing to be done this spring, and hope to have some samples on hand at the National Stationery Show (May) and for Book Expo (June).
If there is sufficient interest by our retailers we may bring in some? all? of the colors to have on sale by June or July.
They are expensive—and will retail somewhere between $18.50-$20 each. Are you willing to pay that amount for a pocket journal?
If so, what colors do you like?
Thank you! Your votes make a difference!
Official Call for Entries for the 2012 Rhodia Journal Swap: “Favorite Things”
It’s here! Time to roll our our first ever Rhodia Journal Swap: “Favorite Things.” Interested in participating? Read on, then please fill out the form below by Jan 18th. We’d love if you would share this opportunity with your friends! Questions? Please submit via comments. Continue Readering »
Exaclair’s December Sale
Every year at Exaclair we have a sale of of all kinds of stationery products in the office: samples from France we decided not to carry; discontinued products; and some current products that are a little banged up and cannot be sold. There is something for everyone–stationery, cards & envelopes, notebooks, organizational products, calligraphy items and fountain pen inks. 
The sale will be held on December 6th & 7th from 10 AM to 4 PM. We are located at 143 West 29th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10001. We’re not far from Penn Station, on 29th Street between Avenue of the Americas and 7th Avenue.
I will look forward to chatting with you if you are able to stop by!
Rhodia WebPlanners – Academic Year
Based on the amount of feedback and emails we have received, we are reintroducing Rhodia WebPlanners for the 2012-2013 academic year. 
Any last-bits of advice on changes, enhancements, etc.?
The Inside Scoop – Dot Pads
We hear…. 
-Rhodia will be introducing a No. 18 Dot Pad.
-Dot Pads will be available in several spiral sizes, including the popular No. 13 and No. 14.
-There will be a Dot Pad cover in orange.
More soon….
Art Materials World 2011
There will be a whole lotta Rhodia at the Exaclair Booth – #337 – at Art Materials World 2011. This trade show and convention is sponsored by NAMTA – the International Art Materials Trade Association, and takes place at the Phoenix, Arizona Convention Center from April 13-15th. 
Several new Rhodia products will be unveiled at the show, including “R” by Rhodia–a premium 90g ivory paper pad with a “soft touch” cover, and…drumroll…..the new Dot Webbies!
If you are planning to attend please stop by to say hello! I plan to visit artist and Rhodia friend, Bernadette Ward of Pan Pastels. Bernadette recently did some experimenting with Pan Pastel colors in a Rhodia blank Webbie. Here’s her video.
You might also see me at a Diamondbacks game as I continue my quest to collect baseball hats from around the country! Since my beloved New York Mets are off to such a great start this year(!) I should be able to wear my cap without too much razzing..
Long Island Pen Show this Weekend! March 5th and 6th at Hofstra University
2011 Long Island Pen Show
this Saturday & Sunday 5-6 March 2011
Sponsored by the Long Island Pen Club
Hofstra University Student Center Multi-purpose Room 101
Hempstead, Long Island, New York
Saturday 5 March 2011
* 8:00-10:00 am Pre-show admission, open to exhibitors and weekend traders.
* 10:oo am -6:00 pm Open to the public
Sunday 6 March 2011
* 8:00-10:00 am Pre-show admission, open to exhibitors and weekend traders.
* 10:oo am -4:00 pm Open to the public
Daily Admission is $10.00 payable at the door. Click for more details. Continue Readering »
The DC Supershow
I am looking forward to the DC pen show this coming weekend. It is the biggest fountain pen show in the world. If you love pens, pen memorabilia and inks, this is heaven on earth. 
The first two days of the show are for weekend traders and retailers; but August 14-15 – Saturday and Sunday, are open to consumers. The show is held at the Sheraton Tysons Corner in Vienna, Virginia. More information here.
I collect antique inkwells, so I’m hoping to add one or two to my collection, plus a fountain pen or two, and some ink, and whatever I see that grabs my imagination. I will brave the sighs I’m going to get when I get home…but pen people understand.
A bottle of the new 1670 Herbin ink will be at the Pendemonium booth if you would like to stop by and test it. Bob Johnson, who runs the show, asked me to bring some Herbin inks and Clairefontaine paper for the testing table and various other places. I have packed some Rhodia and some Triomphe pads.
I’ll also bring along some pens I feel don’t work properly or I’m afraid to use. I know I can get some friendly, expert advice on what to do.
Hope to see you there or bump into you at one of the tables!
Fahrney’s Vendor Day
Fahrney’s Pens retail store hosts a different vendor the first Wednesday of the month. This month, Rhodia & Clairefontaine will be the featured vendors. I will be on hand with the area sales rep to meet customers and answer questions. I’m bringing some products from Exaclair for people to test with their pens, including a bottle of Herbin’s new 1670 ink. 
Fahrney’s Vendor Day & Sale is scheduled for Wednesday, August 4th (tomorrow) from 10 AM to 5 PM. They are offering an extra 10% off Rhodia and Clairefontaine’s everyday prices. Fahrney’s offers a wide selection of Rhodia and Clairefontaine pads and notebooks.
The store is located at 1317 F Street, N.W., Washington, DC 2002. Tel. – 202-628-9525. They are located two blocks from the Metro Center.
Farhney’s is a storied name for fountain pens. In 1929 Earl Fahrney founded Fahrney’s Pens as a fountain pen repair shop. The business thrived. He slowly expanded and decided to sell new writing intruments, including the “revolutionary” ballpoint pen. The tagline “The Write Place” was acquired when Mr. Fahrney moved the business in 1950 to the historic Willard Hotel on F Street.
In 1961 Mr. Fahrney hired Odell Chappell who was the store’s first female employee. “The Pen Lady” as she became known, is now retired but remembered for her tireless dedication to Fahrney’s and her customers.
In 1972 Mr. Fahrney sold Fahrney’s Pens to Jon and Corinne Sullivan. The Sullivans shared his passion for fountain pens, and deep commitment to customers and employees. Their son, Chris, has taken over day-to-day operations. 80 years after its founding Fahrney’s remains a family-owned business.
Visit the website here. I hope to see you tomorrow!
Yellow Pads
Rhodia makes one pad with yellow paper. It is 8 1/4 x 12 1/2″, ruled with margin. It is not the most popular pad we make, but the sales are consistently high enough to keep it in the mix. 
Since I write with fountain pens, white paper enhances the color of inks (Diamine, Sailor, Herbin) I use and makes the experience of writing more vibrant. But for some interior reason, when I need to take “serious notes” I prefer a yellow pad. I have thought about why this might be and have concluded I associate white more with creativity; and yellow with memory.
Which color pad do you like to use?
Coming Soon to Israel: Rhodia?
Rhodia and Clairefontaine notebooks may soon be available in stationery, art supply and university bookstores in Israel. Selected products from each brand will be shown this coming weekend to prospective retailers at a back-to-school show. 
Two weeks ago I spent a day doing site visits in Jerusalem with Yaffa and Nathan Sror of Kolbosrad, Ltd., an importer and distributor of quality stationery, office and art supplies in Israel. They discovered Rhodia at the Frankfurt paper show this past January and felt our notebooks could be a good compliment to their other lines.
Yaffa and Nathan were wonderful hosts and guides. I felt as if I had known them for years–people with generous hearts like they do have that gift.
One of the stores they took me to visit was Jerusalem Pens, located in the old German Colony neighborhood. It carries a wide selection of notebooks, journals and writing instruments, including some pens of their own design. Both the store and the neighbor are special.
A little to my surprise, a photo of Pope Benedict XVI writing with a fountain pen greeted me when I walked into their beautiful showroom. The owner, Mr. David Elispur, told me the pope is a customer, and came by for a visit when he traveled to Israel.
Jerusalem Pens is worth a trip if you visit the city. Hopefully, one of these days you can spot Rhodia there, too.
Buying Rhodia Pads in Bulk
Several months ago we received a rash of email from people asking if they could buy Rhodia in bulk from us (Exaclair). Since Exaclair operates B-2-B, I tried to come up with a solution. I called some of our best Rhodia retailers including Alko Office Supply, Goulet Pens, and Vickerey, and asked if they would sell to consumers in bulk. They all said they would be delighted to do so! In fact, most if not all retailers will offer a discount in product price and/or shipping for bulk sales. Our best Rhodia customers online can be found here.
Some people are not shy about asking for a price break and assume everyone does as well. I haven’t…I’m shy. If I didn’t see this option indicated I assumed it didn’t exist. It would not occur to me to bring it up. Researching this issue I found most retailers are very happy to get bulk orders but don’t generally advertise them. 
So, if you want to buy a certain notepad in bulk, the first thing to do is call ahead on product availability: is it in stock or when can they have it for you. After that, ask what shipping and/or product discount the retailer is willing to provide.
“Bulk sales” means more than 2 or 3 pads. Several retailers already provide sales in multiples, including Jet Pens, Fahrney’s and Goulet Pens. “Bulk” means by case pack, which is how products are shipped from France. Case packs can be packed in five, 10 or even 20.
Anyway, bulk buying is available. It will save you money, and keep a steady supply of notebooks at hand.
Please let us know if you encounter any problems with bulk purchases; or, if there are retailer(s) you would like to single out for exception service.
Clairefontaine
The 2010 Clairefontaine-Rhodia catalog can be viewed online here.
You can also view the catalog on the English version of their website here. 
We would appreciate knowing what Clairefontaine and Rhodia products appeal to you. I can’t promise that we will import them all–we have limited warehouse space and currently import and carry many references–but if enough Clairefontaine and Rhodia fans express interest in a particular product or line, I will see about showing it at the upcoming National Stationery Show in New York in May.
Thank you all very much for your support and good ideas.
Exaclair’s Photo Archive
Several times a week I get requests from retailers, editors and writers looking for specific product photos. I direct them all to check Exaclair’s web archive of images: Exaclairretailers.com. Continue Readering »
