Step Up Your Stapler Game

August 10, 2025

The Perfect Stapler


Few things are more satisfying as the “chlunk…chlunk…chlunk…” sound and feel of a well-balanced stapler. The ability to fasten multiple sheets of paper together with a tiny metal wire is a true marvel of engineering and not something we should take for granted.
While the ubiquitous Swingline might seem like the obvious go-to choice for all of your page pairing needs, take a look at a couple of strong players in the stapler game:

Classic Stapler

Ace Fastener’s Aceliner

Founded in 1952, Ace Fasteners still produces this sleek Art Deco inspired stapler. A favorite of executives and creatives for nearly 40 years, the Aceliner is a solid choice for anyone looking to make a statement without sacrificing quality.

Modern Stapler

Lexon's Buro:

Designed by brothers Jeremy and Adrian Wright, the Lexon Buro is a fun, contemporary stapler. The soft ABS rubber coating begs to be picked up and used. A great addition to any modern workspace.

Iconic Stapler

Folle's Stapler 26:

Designed by Henning Andreasen and subsequently included the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection, the “Stapler 26” is manufactured by Folle in Denmark and is a true icon in the world of Industrial Design.

Luxury Stapler

El Casco's M5:

Manufactured in the Basque region of Spain, El Casco’s M5 stapler sits at the intersection of luxury, function and art. Founded in the 1920’s to produce revolvers, El Casco expanded into desk products during the great depression and debuted the M5 stapler in 1934. Still produced today, this stapler is coveted by many.

No desk is complete without the right stapler. Spend some time choosing the perfect addition to your workspace, and while you are at it, check out www.FirstDraftCo.com for the finest selection of notebooks, pencils and other delightful accessories for all of your creative needs.

Connect with us:
We started First Draft Co. to design products and experiences that inspire creativity. One of the biggest hurdles can often be where to start. In our First Draft Conversations we explore the beginning stages of an idea through the eyes of the artist, designer or visionary behind it.

We recently had to the opportunity to sit down with Maz McWilliams, founder of Ticamide to talk about starting a successful clothing line and what some of his "First Drafts" looked like. His journey may have been surprising to him, but with his clarity of vision and ability to put things in perspective, it is not surprising to us he has made it as far as he has.
Tell us about the beginnings of Ticamide? The "First Draft" so to speak.

Designing apparel and building a brand were never things I imagined myself doing. I always thought of myself as a creative and with an informal music background thats where I pulled from when it came to making things. The funny thing about starting something is the attachment we develop to the imagined outcome. That attachment is so powerful, at any moment it can either push you and keep you going or disappoint you when things don't go the way you planned. Either way, perseverance and the ability to bounce back and staying inspired is so important. I like to attribute that to the people you surround yourself with. You have to have people you love in your corner.

What was your first prototype?

Our first prototype was a 4 way stretch pair of athletic shorts, they weren't even housed under the Ticamide brand. it was an entirely different thing at the time. The prototype came out as a bit of a Frankenstein but we learned a lot from over designing and concepting.
What hurdles have you run into on the journey and how have they shaped you?

There are a lot of moving parts when making clothes and simultaneously building a brand. Its easy to take on too much at once. I've learned to focus on my ideas and execution. Trust the process and trust that the good ideas will float to the top. Don't fear losing something so much that you unintentionally push it away or let its presence effect the end result of your other work.

Tell us about your design process. Where do you draw inspiration from?

I've always paid close attention to the details of the things that inspire me...it could be an old hat that belonged to a family member or the way a waist is finished on a coat of a passerby. NYC is a constant flow of inspiration..I like the things that stand out and I love figuring out what it is about them that separate them from the pack. All that said, i'd be lying if I said Instagram wasn't a big inspiration for me these days...everytime I'm on the app I'm screen grabbing moments and colors and styles that stand out. Even if I never look at them again, I believe it all adds up.

What are the future plans for the brand?

Of course we want to grow and get our goods on more people. We want to share our culture as well and spread the work about the ideas that are important to us.

Thank you so much for your time today Maz - we can't wait to see what is in store for Ticamide in the future.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it, we'll talk soon.
Maz may have started from humble beginnings with his 4 way stretch shorts, but looking at a sampling below from his current line shows those early days have paid off. Ticamide has been grabbing the attention of the fashion and design world for good reason.
We can't thank Maz enough for taking the time to give us glimpse into the "First Draft" of Ticamide. If we are lucky in this life we might take part in the early stages of getting one or two really great ideas get off the ground, so having someone share theirs with us can provide great insight and even greater inspiration. Thanks Maz!
If you're ready to get to work on your masterpiece, or you are just looking for a place to capture your doodles while on a conference call, check out our collection of notebooks at First Draft Co.
CONNECT WITH US

The Modern Notebook

February 08, 2026

We don’t measure a product’s usefulness by the number of bells and whistles packed into the box, rather by the experience it creates for the user.

We designed the First Draft Co. Notebook with this goal in mind as we stripped down the common notebook and built a new standard for notebooks, based on the thought that quality materials and superior craftsmanship will win out every time.

Your Starting Lineup

January 13, 2026

We started First Draft Co. with a passion to build tools and experiences that inspire creativity. A notebook can be so much more than a stack of papers between two pieces of cardboard. It can be part of the reason you love what you do.

I once had a summer job refurbishing office cubicle panels. My first day I got assigned to help one of the upholstery guys. Charlie took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. We would strip down the fabric covered cubicle walls, replace the foam batting, recover the panels in new fabric and then ship them off to the installers.

Charlie had a way of making those panels look like works of art. The patterns in the fabric would line up perfectly across entire rows of cubicles. The seams were invisible. I never saw a single pucker or wrinkle in the stitching.

After a couple weeks I commented to Charlie that he must really love cubicle panels to have the energy to show up each day and turn another stack of old panels into something beautiful. He laughed, "Do I love cubicle panels? No, those are just a paycheck" Then he surprised me when he added "What I love, are my tools".

He went on to explain that he had been working with fabric and furniture all his life. He came to appreciate a quality pair of scissors and a well-balanced hammer early on in his career. He realized that if he looked forward to using his tools everyday he didn’t mind spending the time to make sure everything was perfect.

That lesson stuck with me long after the summer was over and I headed back to school. I decided to start First Draft Co. because one of the most important tools in my life is a notebook.– but I’ve never had a notebook I looked forward to using. I knew I needed to make one.

After nearly two years of researching, designing and prototyping; The First Draft Co. Notebook has become the tool I love to use and what I look forward to everyday to help me tackle the stacks of work in my life - I hope it will be same for you. Head on over to our Product Section and check them out.

Joe Bedore - Co-Founder

joe@firstdraftco.com

“But, do you love it?”

December 08, 2025

First Draft Co. co-founder Ryan and I had bounced a couple ideas off each other over the years, but this new idea seemed different. Over a few emails and phone calls I explained to him my recurring thought that somehow I should be getting more out of the notebooks and sketchbooks I have been using. The problem was – I didn’t necessarily dislike any of the products I was using, in fact, a couple of them I actually kind of liked.

As we talked about the current notebook I was using and I explained the features and how I used it on a daily basis –Ryan asked the one question that solidified our resolve to start First Draft Co. – “But, do you love it?”

The answer was a definitive “No” I didn’t love any of them. Sure, I may have loved the paper from one, the cover from another, and the binding style from yet another – but no single notebook brought all of those features together into a notebook I would look forward to using every day.

So we set out to make our own.

It was a long road. We learned a ton about the notebook and paper industries. We learned why we couldn’t find the notebook that had everything we were looking for, it was a simple answer; it’s really hard to manufacture high quality notebooks, use premium materials and micro-manage every detail while not compromising on any of your must-haves.

As time goes on we’d like to share a little more about the process to design and manufacture a brand new product – but for now, it is safe to say we accomplished our goal. The First Draft Co. Notebook is the highest quality, most thoughtfully designed and skillfully assembled notebook we have ever used. I can finally say “I love my Notebook”. Head over to our shop and take a look, we think you will love them too.

Joe Bedore - Co-Founder

joe@firstdraftco.com

First Draft Co.

December 06, 2025