Every so often a delivery comes in that gets more attention at the counter than it does in the stockroom. Legami's koala range is one of those. It's the Sleeping la Vida Loca design – a run of drowsy, faintly smug little faces – and it's on the shelves now, both in the shop and online.
For the pencil case
The Free Hugs ballpoint is the one people pick up first. Press the top and the koala tightens its arms round the barrel. Black ink, a comfortable grip, and it brightens a to-do list more than a pen has any right to.
The erasable gel pen is the practical one. The ink is heat-sensitive, so it disappears under the eraser on the cap and you can write straight over the gap. It earns its keep for homework done in pen, and for planners where the plans keep changing.
The Lovely Friends gel pen has a soft koala topper that doubles as a rest, so it stays where you put it instead of rolling off the desk.
All three fit in the 2-in-1 silicone pencil case, which unzips and folds down into a stand-up pen pot. It wipes clean, which matters more than you'd think by the end of a school term.
Small gifts and stocking fillers
The Mini Super Soft koala is deep-pile plush in a size that fits a bag or a shelf, and it comes with a little ID card so you can write a name and a message before you hand it over. The Tiny Super Soft key ring is the same finish on a clip, and the Mini Kawaii coin purse holds coins, a card or a pair of earbuds and clips onto keys or a backpack.
With Christmas coming, these are the easy ones: a pen or two for a stocking, the plush for the friend who has everything, the pencil case for whoever's starting a new term in January.
Come and see them
The koalas are in at 4 Callender Street now. If you're putting a few pieces together as a gift, bring them to the counter and we'll happily help you pick.
