I was browsing for stationery news headlines this week when I found an article in Publisher’s Weekly announcing that Barnes & Noble has acquired Levenger. Levenger is a lifestyle brand know for its stationery products, writing instruments and office and desk decor. So I thought it merited a mention on a blog dedicated to desk space.
I don’t know what my reaction is though. On the plus side, Barnes & Noble has always had a nice selection of journals and planners in it’s physical stores. I don’t recall seeing a large selection of pens there before, but I’m not opposed to it. I’m also in favor of sharing more delightful analog tools and products with audiences everywhere, and it sounds like a selection of products will be introduced fairly soon. Plus they are keeping the Levenger headquarters and employees in place and are continuing to sell through the Levenger website. This seems like a great opportunity for Levenger.
However, I can’t help but be a little wary of the large company purchasing the smaller one. B&N has announced it will sell select items in it’s own stores and in the future will add some items through Paper Source, which it acquired in 2021. I don’t know if you remember that Paper Source declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021 (likely how it led to the B&N acquisition) but that whole incident left a bad taste in my mouth. Again, I want to see small and medium-size stationery brands succeed in the marketplace, but I’m also not sure how to feel about large corporations entering the space.
Do you have thoughts?
My impression has always been that Barnes & Noble cheapens the brands that show up in their stationery section. I would hate to see Levenger become a parody of itself and lose some of the high quality stationery and lifestyle products they started with in the beginning. I remember when they opened a store at Marshall Fields in Chicago, and M bought me the loden green suede pocket tote, that the character Brenda had in Six Feet Under. I still love that bag! Obviously, some of their items are a bit cost prohibitive, but they deserve credit for trying to keep up the quality and interest they had in the early years. Their products have changed and gone through some evolution, but there are still some unique things that are hard to find elsewhere. Besides, forgive me if I am wrong, but Barnes & Noble used to be full of clunky Levenger knockoffs during the holidays. I feel like the same thing happened to Paper Source. It used to be so unique and artsy, and now it’s just a lot of plastic stocking stuffers. Some of the original things are there, but not the way they used to be. I guess we’ll see. Sigh