What: Paperchase, a UK-based paper store chain, opens first Toronto location
Where: The Bay, 176 Yonge Street (at Queen), just steps from the subway
Hours: M-F 10 – 9:30, Sat 9:30 – 9:30, Sun 10 – 7
The UK’s hottest stationery chain has landed in Canada! It came as a total surprise to me. I didn’t know they were extending out of the UK. So far, I believe there are only two in Canada/North America – one in The Bay at Yonge and Queen Streets in Toronto, and one at Square One in Mississauga. They’ll soon also be opening locations in Yorkdale and Sherway Gardens malls in Toronto, as well as locations in Calgary and Vancouver. They even brought employees over from England to get it started. Exciting! I was thrilled to hear this because a) I love a good paper store obviously, b) Canada doesn’t really have anything like this to call their own so why not and c) I ordered from them once and got docked with high customs taxes. Huzzah!
The location at The Bay has only been open for about two weeks, and even in the half-an-hour or so I spent there, they had a lot of customer interest. I imagine they’d have way more traffic if they actually were in the Eaton Centre mall across the street, though, as this location is a bit hidden, so you’ll need to go hunting for it. Good start anyhow!
Paperchase is for kids and the young-at-heart. You’ll find lots of lunch boxes and cute school supplies, as well as loads of notebooks, agendas, cards, gift-wrapping, random desk objects and accessories. You’ll think it’s more kid-like at first glance, but then you’ll spy a raunchy card or a flask, but they’re still cute. Sneaky!
So here’s a walk-through of what you’ll find at Paperchase in The Bay.
Cutesy kidstuff – lunch boxes/bags, notebooks, thermoses…
Since it’s summer still, there’s the travel/exploration theme…
STICKERS. They also have these sticker booklets that are like ‘reward booklets,’ so in theory, for teachers, but also hells yes I’m getting a sticker booklet of “I’m a Unicorn.”
Fruit stationery/stuff has been very hot this summer!
All the food piggy banks O_O
School season! I found an agenda here that fit the description of what I’ve been looking for so I was very happy.
Lots of to-do list pads and notebooks…
More notebooks… such pretty designs! Most of Paperchase’s products are by their in-house designers at their studio in London, so you won’t find these anywhere else.
Lots of lil notebooks…
*squee break*
I very much would love to see children walking around wearing ice cream cone sunglasses (see here to buy the best ones).
My friend exclaimed, ‘they even make their tape cases pretty!’ Also note: British brands!
Ok, I love cute pushpins and mini highlighters and such, but let me just draw your attention to the chicken stapler.
Note cards, markers, colour pencils, crayons, pencil cases and tins, all for fairly reasonable prices!
The wall of organization and photo-love + gift wrapping. Their big sheets of wrapping paper you see on the ladder are only $2.50!
Adorable gift bags, umbrellas, phone cases, passport cases, backpacks… Look at all those patterns!
There are also multiple rows of cards for all occasions.
And no doubt about it, you’ll find a bunch of work by Gemma Correll, your favourite adorable British artist.
Postcards are only $1.25!
Look-alike Muji pens (only .5) and mini tins!
<3
I was thoroughly pleased with my first visit to Paperchase. I was nervous that I wouldn’t find much I liked because it’s more kid-oriented, but I gotta say I came home with some good loot!
Anyhow, Canada will be very welcoming to Paperchase! More and more people are getting back into buying cute stationery, so having chains around like this and not just stodgy Hallmark stores is a great idea. Paperchase goes through seasons of supplies, so I’ll be back when new lines arrive!
I recommend them for: back to school shopping, cute-ifying your desk space and quick gift shopping.
Want to show off your favourite paper store? Write a guest post!
WHOA! What a magical selection. I’ve always loved rummaging through the Paperchase “sections” at bookstores and stuff. I had NO idea they had an actual storefront, though. Jealous!
Oh I never knew they had sections in places, neat!
What an amazing blog thank you Jessica! Was a pleasure to serve you and your friend and meet a fellow stationery addict! There’s even a shot of me trying to get help to change the till roll- made me laugh!
Hope to see you soon
Jo
Haha, yay, hi, Jo! Glad you like 🙂 I think I’ve directed a bunch of more paper lovers your way! And I’m sure you’ll be seeing me again. 😉 xo
Hey Jessica
I just had to let you know your blog made our company newsletter last week!!
Ahh! That’s so cool! Thanks for letting me know. If there’s any way to see it I’d love to 🙂
Ohhhh I hope there’s one like this Paperchase in my country and city <3 I love seeing the photos of the stationery and I think if I went there, I would spend a lot because – uh – they are so adorable! Thanks for posting this Jessica ^^
love this!! Paperchase is wonderful. You can also find Paperchase products in Staples, but I’m unsure of how many. And last year it was in target as well.
Just to let you know we have now successfully opened our 4th store in Canada!! Looking forward to seeing our new Canadian stationery fans in our Hudson Bay locations in Queen St and Square One, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary!
Congrats, Joanna! So exciting. Have you got the new lines in yet at Queen St?
Comments are closed.