If you are reading this because you need to order some Rhodia products, you may already have a list of options in front of you. But which one is the right call? The honest answer: depends entirely on who will use it and how.
Here is what I have found after processing around 80 office supply orders annually over the past five years at a 200-person company. My experience is mostly with mid-range stationery—Rhodia, Leuchtturm, Clairefontaine—in a professional services office. If you are stocking a design studio or outfitting an executive suite, your mileage may vary. But for anyone trying to make a sensible stationery purchase, here is a framework that helped me stop second-guessing every order.
When the User Is Just "Everyone" in the Office
The general-purpose notebook order
This is the most common scenario I deal with. A department head says: “Just get us some decent notebooks. No frills.”
My recommendation for this scenario: Rhodia A6 Rhodiarama softcover notebook.
Here is why I default to this one for general office use. The A6 size is portable but not tiny. It fits in a jacket pocket or a desk drawer without being obtrusive. The softcover format is forgiving—no cracked edges, no extra weight. And the 90gsm Clairefontaine paper handles most pens well, including fountain pens if that is a thing in your office. In my experience about 15% of our staff write with fountain pens daily. The rest use ballpoints or rollerballs. This paper works for all three.
But wait—this only makes sense if the users are field workers or meeting attendees. For a stationary desk user, I would recommend the A5 staplebound instead. More writing area. Lies flat. Different job.
The TCO angle: At about $10-12 per unit, the A6 softcover costs more than a mass-market spiral. But we have had fewer re-orders from this department than from the one that bought cheaper alternatives. No covers falling off. No ink bleeding through. The cost per usable page ends up lower over six months. At least, that is what our usage data suggests.
When You Are Ordering for Creative Professionals or Enthusiasts
The “they know exactly what they want” order
This scenario is trickier. If the request comes from a designer, an architect, or someone who explicitly asked for a “fountain pen-friendly” notebook, your options tighten. These users have specific expectations about paper behavior.
My recommendation: Rhodia Rhodiarama softcover in A5 or A6, but with a caveat.
The Rhodiarama line uses 90gsm vellum paper. It is smooth, shows ink properties well, and handles most fountain pen nibs without feathering. But here is where I made a mistake in my first order: I assumed that all Rhodia papers performed identically with every ink. They don’t.
I learned this after a $400 order of Rodia staplebound notebooks for our design team. They used broad nibs and sheening inks. The paper held up fine for writing, but heavy ink layering showed through in some spots. The designers were not furious, but they noted it. I had assumed “fountain pen friendly” meant “universal with all ink types.” Turned out the vellum paper in the Rhodiarama line is better for wetter nibs than the regular staplebound version.
Now I ask one question before ordering for creative teams: “Are you using a broad nib or flex nib on this?” If yes, go with the Rhodiarama softcover. If no, the standard Rhodia pad is fine.
For the fountain pen itself: Rhodia fountain pens are decent daily writers. But they are not a gift for an enthusiast. They are a practical tool. If your request comes from someone who already owns a Lamy Safari or a TWSBI Eco, they may not need another steel nib pen. I would ask before ordering. Saves budget.
When Budget Is Tight (and the Request Is for a Big Batch)
The “we just need something that works” order
This is the third scenario. Your VP says: “We need 100 notebooks for the new hire kits. Keep it under $500 total.”
My recommendation: Rhodia staplebound notebooks in A5.
Here is why. The staplebound notebooks—particularly the dot pad version—cost about half the price of the softcover. They are not as durable, but for a new hire kit that will be used at a desk 90% of the time, they work fine. The paper is still 90gsm Clairefontaine. The lay-flat spine is good. And at about $7 per unit, you can get 70+ units for $500.
But I should be honest about the trade-off: The staplebound binding does not hold up as long as the softcover. If the user throws the notebook in a bag daily, the cover chips. We had to replace about 15% of these within six months vs. about 2% for the Rhodiarama line. That replacement cost is a hidden line item. For some departments, that is worth it. For others, the softcover is cheaper long-term.
TCO lesson: The $500 quote for 70 staplebound pads turned into $570 over six months after replacements. The $600 quote for 50 Rhodiarama softcovers had zero replacements in the same period. The “cheaper” option cost more per employee over the year. That is something I only started tracking after the 2023 budget audit.
How to Know Which Scenario You Are In
Here is a quick test. Ask yourself three questions:
- Who is actually using this? (General staff vs. creative team vs. one-off request)
- How will they carry it? (Desk-only vs. daily commuter vs. field work)
- What is the real budget—initial order or total cost over 12 months?
Run-down map:
- If it is general office use, people who commute lightly: A6 Rhodiarama softcover is safe.
- If it is for creative pros using wet nibs or showoff inks: Same A6 Rhodiarama but verify nib size first.
- If you need 50+ units on a strict initial budget, and users are desk-bound: Staplebound A5 dot pads work, but budget for 15% replacement.
- If the request is for a Rhodia fountain pen as a gift or personal tool: Ask first—it is great for new fountain pen users, but an enthusiast may already have one.
No single product fits every scenario. That is not a cop-out. That is just the truth of office supply ordering after several years of watching what works and what doesn’t.
