How Pencilcase.au Began
It all started in early 2024 when Sarah, one of our founders, spent three frustrating hours trying to find a pencil case that could fit her daughter's iPad stylus, graphing calculator, and the seemingly endless list of coloured pencils required by Australian schools. After visiting multiple stores and scrolling through hundreds of online listings, she realised there had to be a better way.
That evening, she called her brother James, a product reviewer with a decade of experience testing consumer goods, and proposed an idea: what if they created a resource specifically for Australian families looking for stationery solutions? Not just another generic review site, but a genuinely helpful guide that understood the unique needs of Australian students—from the specific booklist requirements of different states to the durability needed to survive a summer in a hot car boot.
Within weeks, they had recruited Emma, a former primary school teacher who had seen first-hand how the right (or wrong) pencil case could affect a child's organisation and confidence in the classroom. Together, the three of them began systematically testing pencil cases, pouches, and organisers, documenting everything from zipper quality to how well cases withstood being dropped, squashed, and forgotten at the bottom of a school bag.
Our Testing Philosophy
We don't just look at product specifications—we actually use these pencil cases in real-world conditions. Every product we recommend has been through what we call our "school term test," which includes:
- Capacity verification: We physically count how many pens, pencils, and accessories fit comfortably, not just what the manufacturer claims.
- Durability testing: Zippers are opened and closed hundreds of times. Cases are dropped, squeezed, and subjected to the kind of treatment a typical school bag receives.
- Practical organisation: We evaluate how easy it is to find items quickly, whether compartments are truly useful, and if the design actually helps with organisation or just looks good in photos.
- Australian context: We consider local factors like compatibility with NAPLAN-approved calculators, space for Australian booklist requirements, and materials that can handle our climate.
Why We're Different
Many review sites are simply aggregating information from other sources or publishing content written by people who've never touched the products they're recommending. We take a different approach. Every guide on Pencilcase.au is written by someone who has genuine expertise in stationery, education, or product testing—often all three.
We also believe in being upfront about how we operate. When you click on a product link and make a purchase on Amazon Australia, we may earn a small commission through the Amazon Associates program. This helps us cover the costs of running this site and purchasing products to test. However, this never influences our recommendations—we regularly feature products that aren't available through affiliate programs if we believe they're the best option for our readers.
Our goal is simple: to save Australian families time and frustration by providing honest, thoroughly researched information about pencil cases and stationery organisation. Whether you're a parent preparing for back-to-school season, an art student looking for the perfect brush holder, or a professional who needs their desk supplies organised, we're here to help you find exactly what you need.