Small Batches, Big Plans
PREST isn't really about stationery, not really. It's about making, sharing and inspiring creativity. We might be small right now, but my vision for the brand is much bigger. I want to show you how I see PREST growing over time. Read on to find out more.
The plan's simple, but it'll take time, and it certainly won't happen overnight.
We start with notebooks made by hand, in small batches. Each one is folded, stitched and finished with care. They take time, and they cost more than something mass-produced. But that’s the point. These notebooks are for makers. They're for the people who value the effort behind a made object and understand what it represents. They're not for everyone, and that's okay.
The act of making has a way of spreading. When someone uses or gifts a PREST notebook, it becomes more than paper. It carries a spark. It says "here’s something made with care, now go make something of your own". That exchange matters. From our hands to yours, I hope that you'll feel the pull to make something yourself. That’s how you build a culture of making.
But PREST can't stay small forever. If more people are to start making, we need to be more accessible. That’s where the “everyday” notebook comes in. Something more affordable, and designed for wider use. They won’t be handmade, but they’ll carry the same thought and design that runs through everything we do. Importantly, our limited handmade batches will continue. They’re part of PREST, and always will be. We're makers after all. Growth doesn’t mean losing ourselves. It means widening the circle.
There’s one more part to this master plan: giving back. Creativity and making shouldn't be a luxury. But too many schools, especially in disadvantaged communities, have seen funding for creative subjects stripped away. PREST will donate 50p from every notebook sold to help bring creativity back into those classrooms, so the next generation of makers can start their own journey.
So, that's the roadmap.
- Start off small
- Spread a culture of making
- Grow without losing sight of craft
- Give back, so the next generation can make too
And in the long run, make PREST something that helps everyone start.