Starting another year off with a new set of stationery can be incredibly motivating- many of us countdown the days till we can get our new planners, or a set of pens to write in them with. Let’s not forget about all the parents who want to finish up buying their kids’ book lists for the new term, or even the students who are looking for some fresh notebooks and highlighters to make school a little more interesting.
With 2021 being just around the corner, that time of the year is drawing closer than ever. However, being in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, bookshopping is going to be a little different this year. Regardless, we’ve compiled our list of the top 5 places to buy stationery from in Sri Lanka so you can ensure that whatever you’re getting for the new year is worth your time and money.
5. Miniso
Miniso opened its doors a few years ago and has certainly taken Sri Lankans by storm. The store has Japanese roots and brings down every item you could possibly think of- whether you want an incredibly oversized We Bare Bears plush toy and some Avenger’s themed Q-tips or a set of pastel coloured highlighters and a sequin covered notebook, Miniso is the place to go.
If you’re looking to restock on stationery items that are ridiculously cute- this is definitely the place to shop at. You can visit any one of their outlets down Galle road or Union Place, or even head over to Colombo City Center or the new One Galle Face Mall. Miniso even has one outlet at the Kandy City Center for our reads in the Central Province. While the prices at Miniso are slightly higher, you definitely aren’t getting the usual stock of stationery that you’d find at a regular bookshop. However, for us, Miniso comes last on our list since they don’t offer online shopping.
4. The F:;llstop
The F:;llstop is another great place to get your stationery from. Unlike Miniso, you’ll find a lot of the brands you’re usually used to seeing here- like Maped and Pilot. Apart from that, the stationery store also produces its own items such as pencil cases.
If you’re looking for some high quality stationery to stock your desk this year, then F;:llstop is definitely for you. The store also holds Moleskine journals for 2021 which, in our opinion, would make brilliant gifts for the new year- even for yourself. You can find them at the One Galle Face mall in Colombo, or even shop online and get your items delivered to you within a few days. While we’re all for some great stationery, it is no secret that this store is definitely on the pricey side.
3. Promate
Promate is one of the most popular choices in the country when it comes to stationery, especially for notebooks- as their collection holds them in all sorts of sizes and colours. Their products prove to be of high quality, and apart from that they also hold stationery from other well known brands you might recognize like Mango.
You can find their outlet at Race Course in Colombo. Similar to F:;llstop, Promate too gives their customer base the option of ordering online, so you can get your goodies delivered to you within a few days. On another note, we’d consider Promate to also lean more towards the pricey side.
2. Sarasavi The Bookshop
Sarasavi is an olden goldie. It’s been around for generations and is one of the most trusted stationery providers in the country. While the items here may not be as visually attractive as those at Miniso or F;:llstop, it’s definitely got the basics that everyone needs at a reasonable cost that won’t break your wallet after buying just a notebook and a few pens.
Their outlets can be found scattered all around the country in almost every province- Colombo alone has plenty, from the one in Nugegoda to the one that can be found in the One Galle Face mall. For those who would rather not search physically, the bookshop also offers shopping online and delivers within a few days.
1. PothKade
PothKade was started as the stationery providing arm of the well known Lanka Traders, and has been taking up a generous space in Dam Street, Pettah. While many may not like to venture into the chaotic streets of Pettah, a little experience and good company makes it easy to endure.
PothKade will be full of brands you recognize like Maped and Nataraj- however, the main difference between them and the other stores on this list would definitely be the prices. PothKade offers all of their retailing products at wholesale prices- meaning you don’t have to pay a few extra rupees just because of where you are buying it from. Apart from having practically everything one would need to restock their desk, PothKade allows you to do so for half the usual price.
In addition to that, the store has now taken its products online, and even offers delivery on the same day within Colombo and other suburbs for orders placed before 4 pm. So the combination of low costs, online shopping and same day delivery make PothKade number one on our list of the best places to buy stationery from in Sri Lanka.
Overall, shopping for the new year can prove to be extremely expensive and rack up quite the bill, thus, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re always getting the best quality products at the best prices available. While this might be your usual mindset, it’s also important to remember that this year is a little different, and you should also prioritize your safety as well. Thus, online shopping is definitely the way to go.
Whichever of the stores on our list that you choose to shop at to stock up for the coming year, we’re sure that you’re bound to find items you’ll like, and with that- we hope you all have a happy new year, and to our stationery lovers, may your desk drawers never run dry.
