BY KELLY DOWNING
When The Station[e]ry opened in 2017, its owners Aaliah Al-Aali and Abdulkareem Alalami aimed to fill the void of unique stationery stores in Riyadh. Their centrally located storefront on Takhasussi Street quickly became recognized as the destination where functionality and personality meet. Created by the minds behind House of the 8th—a multidisciplinary design house— Aaliah Al-Aali is the creative director, product mixer, and quality control along with her partner-in-crime Abdulkareem Alalami, the ex-aerospace engineer and the better business negotiator between the two.
His passion for adventure and creativity led to self-discovery and built a well-known graphic novel and comic book writer out of him. Her Masters in Graphic Design graduation thesis, titled “To Elevate the Aesthetic Value of the Mass-Produced Qur’an” was an attempt to have a modern look into Islamic ornamental heritage, a theme you see in her work again and again.
The Station[e]ry is unique because they pick their brands and products carefully. They are hands-on in everything and take customer service very seriously. The Station[e]ry prides itself on being trendy, affordable and high-quality: characteristics quickly noticed and appreciated by the customer. Additionally, they have an in-store gift wrapping service, making it a one-stop shop.
Best selling products include seasonal items such as planners, Ramadan and Eid themed products, and items to get ready for back to school. Personal favorites include their very cute and reasonably-priced gift wrappers and cards, fine paper and pens, new baby gifts, as well as mugs, trays, candles and soaps that can be put together as thoughtful and fun themed gift sets.
Al-Aali advises those who wish to start a business in Riyadh to study the market and try to minimize risk factor as much as possible. Also be flexible, she says, when it comes to customer feedback. The Station[e]ry plans to expand in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar in the coming years. They also have an online store for virtual shopping with shipping throughout Saudi Arabia.
Station[e]ry
8081 Takhasussi Branch Road
Almohammadiyah District, Riyadh 12363
Opening Hours: 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM daily
Email: hello@the-stationery.com
Website: www.the-stationery.com
Social Media: @the_stationery
