Digital stationery is rising in popularity, especially since it is now the go-to option for Gen MZ, who have increasingly used digital platforms for various tasks. According to a report by Technavio, the global digital stationary market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 6% from 2020 to 2024. The report cites factors such as the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, growing demand for personalized digital products, and rising awareness about the environmental impact of paper-based products as driving the market's growth.
Korean startup Noutecompany runs Asia's largest digital stationary platform WeBudding, which has seen a tremendous increase in popularity. WeBudding, an open market service, offers trades of digital stationery content used in tablets, such as digital note templates, sticker images, etc.
The web-based C2C digital stationery service offers a variety of templates for digital diaries, notepads, letters, planners, stickers, etc. As the non-face-to-face platform, it is commonly used among the MZ generation in South Korea, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19, where the transaction volume of digital stationery content used in tablet writing apps, drawing apps, and digital content related to learning and writing is increasing.
With WeBudding, creators can create a range of digital stationery products and tools that can be used for personal or professional purposes. Here are some ways you can use WeBudding:
- Digital note-taking/Journaling: You can use WeBudding's digital notebooks to take notes and organize your thoughts, ideas, and tasks. The notebooks can be customized with different colors, layouts, and page styles to suit your preferences.
- Digital planning: WeBudding's digital planners can help you stay organized and manage your time more efficiently. You can customize the planner with different tasks, appointments, and goals sections.
- Collaborative note-taking: WeBudding's collaborative features allow you to share notes with others and work on projects together. This can be particularly useful for team projects or brainstorming sessions.
- Digital art and design: WeBudding's digital brushes and pens can be used to create digital art and designs. This can be useful for graphic designers, artists, or anyone who wants to create digital artwork.
- Personalized gifts: WeBudding'sWeBudding's customization features allow you to create personalized digital notebooks, planners, or calendars, which can be given as gifts to friends, family, or colleagues.
Overall, the WeBudding digital stationary platform can be used for various purposes, from personal note-taking to professional project management. Its customization features, collaboration tools, and digital art tools make it a versatile platform for anyone looking to go paperless and stay organized.
WeBudding has already achieved significant success with over 400,000 content downloads and a thriving community of over 2,000 creators selling over 15,000 products on its platform, with monthly sales of over 10,000 digital stationery products. WeBudding launched the beta service in 2020 and has shown an average of more than 27% monthly growth, with more than 300,000 content downloads. WeBudding has creators registered from more than twenty countries, including New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, Spain, and Mexico, as well as from Asia-Pacific countries such as the United States, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, etc.
WeBudding to offer content & creations to GoodNotes 5
As part of its global expansion strategy, Noutecompany has partnered with GoodNotes 5, a leading global digital paper app. As part of this partnership, WeBudding will offer a range of digital note templates, planners, and sticker images that can be used within the GoodNotes 5 app. WeBudding has secured exclusive distribution rights for the Korean market, meaning Korean users will be among the first to access this new content.
This new partnership with GoodNotes 5 is expected to benefit both companies, providing users access to an even more comprehensive range of engaging template content. At the same time, WeBudding can expand its reach to a global audience. The launch of Webudding creators' content in the GoodNotes 5 app on March 10, 2023, is a significant milestone for the partnership. Users can currently purchase content from these creators in the pop-up shop within GoodNotes 5.
GoodNotes 5 is primarily available on the iPhone and iPad app stores, with a beta service recently launched for both Windows and Android platforms. The app'sapp's popularity has made it one of the most widely used digital paper apps, with users relying on it daily to streamline their digital note-taking experience.
"We are excited to partner with GoodNotes 5 and offer users even more engaging and diverse template content," said Donghwan Shin, CEO of Noutecompany, which manages the WeBudding platform. "We plan to provide various value-added content to tablet users, such as K-Pop merchandise content, to cater to the needs of a wide range of users."
The partnership comes after Noutecompany's successful pre-Series A funding round, which raised KRW 2.2 billion (approximately USD 1.66 million) from investors Strong Ventures, Capstone Partners, and Schmidt. The company'scompany's growth has also been recognized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups'Startups' technology investment program, TIPS.