Hello Kitty Returns To The '70s For New 'Retro Red' Collection

ClickZ Stationery

Here's what's happening this week in the world of stationery commerce: 
- Hello Kitty’s retro line fuels Q4 gifting momentum.
- Dubai’s Paperworld spotlights e-commerce, sustainability, sourcing.
- Samsung’s One UI 8 update requires mobile QA now.
- New business cards can stretch ad and travel budgets.

⏱️Why Finance and Marketing Measure Growth Differently and How to Bridge the Gap?

At eTail™ Connect West, Fospha’s VP of Growth Jamie Bolton hosted a panel with leading retail brands on the future of measurement. Three themes stood out:

• No single model is enough: Teams combine MTA, MMM, and incrementality for a fuller picture.

• Finance vs. marketing tension: Finance demands proof; marketers need daily direction.

• Speed vs. rigor: Annual MMM updates can’t keep pace with weekly budget shifts.

👉 Fospha closes that gap - the only full-funnel MMM delivering daily, ad-level insights built for teams to grow DTC, Amazon & Beyond.

📌WEEKLY MUST-KNOWS

PRODUCT LAUNCH
Hello Kitty Returns To The '70s For New 'Retro Red' U.S. Stationery Collection

Sanrio U.S. and Studio Oh! dropped a Retro Red collection spanning notebooks, gel pens, pencil pouches and gifting accessories at accessible price points. The 1970s throwback taps five-decade nostalgia and birthday theming ahead of peak gifting, primed for cross-retail and DTC bundles. Licensing managers and content teams can leverage evergreen IP to drive social engagement and basket-builders.

TRADE SHOWS & SOURCING
Paperworld Middle East Returns With Record International Attendance

From Nov 11-13 in Dubai, Paperworld Middle East expects 15,000+ visitors and 500+ companies, with programming on e-commerce growth, recycling innovations and sustainable ranges. The show’s Hub Forum and Project Sustainability signal where materials, packaging and retail models are heading. US brands gain a gateway to MENA buyers and a read on future-ready supply partners.

CONSUMER PRODUCT
Crayola And Hunter Price Roll Out Foodie Friends Collection

What happened: Crayola and Hunter Price launched Foodie Friends, a food-character stationery and crafts range at Tesco, with customizable pencil cases, sticker sets, and craft kits; ImagiPals has already won Gold at the Independent Toy Awards. Why it matters now: Character-led collectability in stationery fuels repeat purchases and cross-category basket growth with Gen Alpha and parents. Who is affected: Mass and grocery retailers, kids’ creative brands, and licensing teams targeting back‑to‑school and gifting.

📅Smartly Advances NYD: Why AI Means More Creativity, Not Less

At Smartly Advanced NYC, Fospha's CEO Sam Carter and CPO Dom Devlin joined industry leaders to debate the role of AI in growth.

The takeaway? From platforms to creators, the consensus is clear: AI isn’t about replacing jobs. It’s about extending human creativity and unlocking new opportunities for marketers to grow.

Watch Sam's perspective from the event 

⚡QUICK READS

Office Supplies Market Outlook To 2034: Global office supplies projected at $204.9B by 2034; smart pens, digital notebooks, and hybrid-work ergonomics are the growth levers to watch.(More)

Samsung Kicks Off One UI 8 Rollout For Galaxy S24 Series: Android 16-based One UI 8 adds AI tools and camera upgrades, signaling immediate mobile QA for shoppable content, creator workflows and site performance on updated devices.(More)

How To Apply And Qualify For A Small Business Credit Card: Guide clarifies that sole proprietors and side gigs can qualify, unlocking rewards and short-term float for inventory and campaigns without heavy paperwork.(More)

ClickZ is a ClickZ Media publication in the DTC eCommerce division