Wait…69 years? Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary, everyone! We’ve officially been around for 69 years, which is quite literally half of Vancouver’s age?! (Yes, I found out our city is 139 years old while making this blog.)
If you are new here, let me reintroduce the store in honour of this exciting occasion, it is our favourite time of the year after all. Buchan’s Kerrisdale Stationery is more than your go-to store for all things stationery; it is part of Kerrisdale’s community and history. It strives to be a place where you can celebrate your hobbies, rediscover the love for craft or find a special gift that is full of love and intention (even if that gift is for yourself, self-love is a must, people.)
Now, in this blog, we will dive a little deeper into Buchan’s history, and you’ll get to know us better through both the accomplishments and struggles.
Of course, what is an anniversary without the celebration fun? Our anniversary sale is back, stronger than ever, so read till the end to find out more about it and some exciting events we have planned to celebrate with you!
Wait… 69 years?
The 69th anniversary, huh? It’s taking a moment to process how big that number feels, and so much can and has happened in this span of time. We’ve experienced robbery, a tense fire season, and even a flood that made the store close for over a month!!
Author’s fun fact: I actually joined the team right after the flood happened. What a time to be alive, am I right?!
But just like we’ve had many hardships, there’ve also been lots of milestones we’ve completed together. Many collaborations and new brands have been introduced as time passes, and the hard work of our team has allowed us to grow in our online shop and spread Buchan’s passion and mission to an international level (even with the occasional struggle, we wouldn’t change it for a thing)
Our Mission
Our team finds joy through our community. In a fast-paced world where technology is overwhelmingly taking over, we believe in the importance of slowing down, connecting to craft and enjoying the small things that bring us joy, for us, stationery, gifts and shared experiences.
We love to be there in the selection of the perfect card for that special occasion, a unique gift to spread the love or helping you rediscover writing tools, learning new skills, and spending way too long choosing the perfect ink (I am obsessed with colour matching, sorry not sorry)
This is why we do what we do, Buchan’s has become more than just a shop; it is also a place to gather and have fun with workshops and meet-ups, a perfect way to connect with people with shared interests.
And of course, our mission wouldn’t be possible without your constant love and support! You are always there for us unconditionally!
People & Shop
One of our goals for the next year ahead of us is for you to get to know our team a little better! The most fun, stationery-obsessed staff you’ll ever encounter, because really, we’re always simultaneously shopping as we receive new products (Self-control is not something we practice because we’re also enablers, woopsss). We ALL need to try a pen when a cool new design is about to drop, and of course, spend hours looking at the beautiful ink swatches made by the amazing Sheila.
Many of you have probably visited Buchan’s, and you can agree with me when I say it’s always transforming, and there’s always something new to discover. That said, there are a few brands we absolutely love that have become staples in our stationery selection.
Some of our favourites include Traveler’s, Midori, and Hobonichi, Japanese brands focused on personalization and everyday writing, from planners to journals. LAMY, a classic German brand, offers a wide range of fountain pens and inks. Leuchtturm1917 is known for its high-quality notebooks (and as a flagship store, they hold an extra special place for us!! I can’t explain the joy of seeing all the colours and sizes on our shelves). And our newest addition, Toyooka Craft, features beautifully made Japanese pen boxes, the perfect companion for any pen lover.
The store is a special place to us as well, and we love to share the joy it brings us. This reel shows the store with the best vibes!! A fun walk around the aisles and some of our favourite displays.
Anniversary Sale & Events
Now, what is an anniversary without a celebration gift to you all? I know we've been all waiting for this section and I can't wait to tell you what we've planned for this year!
Oir anniversary sale will be running from March 31st all the way to April 14th and it includes lots of our favourite brands such as Sailor, Hobonichi, LAMY, Wearingeul, Pelikan and, well the list could go on for a while!
If you come and visit in-store lookout for the signs all around that will tell you which items are on sale so you can browse and discover as you go. If you are online we got a special anniversary collection to check out!
This year’s anniversary events are focused on personalization and hobbies!
Our ink swatching event is back and stronger than ever one of our most loved activities where you can connect with the community while learning about the beauty of fountain pen inks.
We are also introducing a new calligraphy and wax sealing demonstration for those special occasions when you want to write something truly special.
And of course, we will have Leuchtturm1917 notebook personalization, where you’ll get to see how the process of making your notebook unique unfolds.
Event Schedule:
- Ink Swatching: April 8th (Time: 6:30PM-7:30PM) Sign up now! - Limited slots available
- Wax Sealing: Saturday, April 11th (Starting times: 1PM & 4PM) (Canceled)
-
Live Embossing: To be announced
Special words from the Owner
As part of our celebration, I want to highlight once more how important our story is, and getting to know the current owner’s story is something I hope brings you a little closer to us as we go forward. Here is a short story from Inna, Buchan’s owner since 2012
Fifteen years ago, I ran a cozy gift shop with a post office in Arbutus Mall. Nice little shop, but I dreamed bigger. One night, I had a dream: a huge store, cards on every wall, buckets of wrapping paper, pens neatly lined up, notebooks stacked in colourful piles. Stationery heaven. The next morning, still thinking about my dream, a regular customer (a real estate agent) said, “There’s a store on 41st coming up for sale. Interested?” I’d never been to Buchan’s Kerrisdale Stationery before, but I drove over.
I walked in… and froze. My dream. Exactly.
I called the agent: “I’ll take it!”
Since then: A fire, COVID, a flood… but stronger than ever, still surrounded by cards, paper, pens, and notebooks.
Inna carries the uniqueness of Buchan’s that the first owners planted in Kerrisdale within her dream, and she continues to grow the community with your support!
Let the fun begin! Thank you for not only being a part of our community but also learning a bit more about our story. We love to share the importance of the past years, so we can keep going strong and full of intention alongside you.
We’ll be in-store and ready to celebrate with you through special sales and events, whether it’s your first visit or we see you every weekend. We’d love to share this moment with you, and I’m especially excited to chat with you all during the swatching event so we can bond over pretty shimmers and shading.
Not in Vancouver? You can still join the anniversary fun through our online sale, available until April 14th, with a curated selection we’re really excited about.
If you have a message for us, we’d love to hear it. Leave us a note!
Leave a comment