Since Mintel last reported on the market for paper-based organisers, as part of Mintel's broader report on Personal and Electronic Organisers, Market Intelligence, March 2000, there have been rapid advances in technology in the electronic organisers sector. This being the case, Mintel has chosen to examine paper-based personal organisers/data storage products and electronic organisers/PDAs (personal digital assistants)/palmtop computers as two separate markets. As such, a stand-alone report on palmtop computers (incorporating electronic organisers) will be published by Market Intelligence in November 2002. This report therefore focuses solely on paper-based personal organisers and data storage products such as diaries, address/phone books and daybooks.

Since Mintel last reported on the market for paper-based organisers, as part of Mintel's broader report on Personal and Electronic Organisers, Market Intelligence, March 2000, there have been rapid advances in technology in the electronic organisers sector. This being the case, Mintel has chosen to examine paper-based personal organisers/data storage products and electronic organisers/PDAs (personal digital assistants)/palmtop computers as two separate markets. As such, a stand-alone report on palmtop computers (incorporating electronic organisers) will be published by Market Intelligence in November 2002. This report therefore focuses solely on paper-based personal organisers and data storage products such as diaries, address/phone books and daybooks.

There have been mixed effects on sales of paper-based products as sales of PDAs have grown. Paper-based products are still popular with many consumers - sometimes as an adjunct to digital/electronic products - with some suppliers now offering personal organisers in which a mobile phone or PDA can be stored in the same binder. Digital products cannot easily replicate some features, such as business card holders, so it is expected that demand for paper-based products will continue despite the rapid growth in electronic products that has occurred over the last few years. Older consumers, in particular, are often more comfortable using paper-based diaries or organisers, and there remains a certain amount of resistance with regard to relying solely on electronic forms of data storage.

Mintel has chosen to consider the hypothesis that: "Paper-based personal organisers may struggle to attract new and younger users to the category, mainly because of the success of electronic organisers/PDAs/palmtop computers. Short-term growth, therefore, will be driven principally by the custom of loyal and established users."

Other Mintel reports of relevance to this market include:

- Greetings Cards and Stationery Retailing, Retail Intelligence, July 2001

- Mobile Phones and Network Providers, Market Intelligence, April 2001

and the forthcoming:

- Personal Stationery, Market Intelligence, July 2002

- Palmtop Computers, Market Intelligence, November 2002.