Origami papers, instructional books and tools can be a natural fit with your existing product mix if you already offer fine art papers and supplies in your store. Adding some Washi to your current selection of papers, a few bone folders to your selection of paper arts supplies, and a few books to your mix can be a fairly easy and affordable way to attract new customers or introduce your current ones to this Japanese art form.
Most decorative art papers, and for that matter, just about anything from scrap paper to money can be used to create origami art. Bringing them into your store might be as simple as putting together a small selection of books and/or kits and grouping them with the papers you already carry. To give you some book ideas, here’s a brief survey of several types of resources publishers are offering today.
The “Overview” Book
Many publishers put out holistic encyclopedic reference books on origami. As a general rule, they start out with providing the reader with an overview of the history of origami and an introduction to the symbols used to indicate various folds and techniques. The most comprehensive titles feature detailed illustrations and instructions for, in some cases, hundreds of projects.
Some key features that users look for:
large, clear illustrations
simply written step-by-step instructions
a gradual increase in the difficultly level of the projects, and
user-friendly features, such as a spiral binding to allow the book to lie flat while working on the project.
Titles to look at:
The Origami Bible by Nick Robinson, North Light Books, an imprint of F&W Publishing, 2004.
Origami Omnibus: Paper Folding for Everybody by Kunihiko Kasahara, Japan Publications, 1998.
The “Themed” Book
Generally shorter and detailing only tens of projects as opposed to hundreds, titles in this category demonstrate projects creating animals, flowers, boxes and so on. Others center on iris folding, tea bag folding and more. They are often graded for beginning, intermediate or advanced folders.
Sample titles include:
Iris Folding by Michelle Powell
Tea Bag Folding by Janet Wilson and Tiny Van Der Plas
Search Press USA
For beginners:
10-Fold Origami by Peter Engel
And for advanced folders:
Origami Bonsai by Benjamin John Coleman
Tuttle Publishing
Introductory or Children’s Kits
These products create a point of entry into this craft for children or adults unfamiliar with it. They are typically affordable and designed to provide your customers with a preliminary supply of materials and some easy-to-follow directions to get them started. They might also conveniently make for a good gift or impulse buy one of your artist regulars can pick up on the way through your store.
For kids, see the Faber-Castell, Creativity for Kids “Awesome Origami,” and as a good gift or impulse buy, take a look at “Money Origami” from Tuttle Publishing.
Beginner origami is simple enough that even if you have never tried it before, with a little practice, you should be able to put together a decent display, and maybe even host a small make-and-take event yourself. Further, it can provide you with a way to do some community outreach as schools and churches will sometimes engage in fold 1,000 paper crane drives as a response to an illness or tragedy in the community.
Especially if you already carry paper arts supplies, take a look at some of the attractive origami products on the market today as a way to expand your offerings in the broader category of paper arts. |
