Share the love

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day who said that he never fails to get a comment from friends and colleagues when he takes one of his great pens out of his pocket to sign the lunch or dinner tab, flourish his signature or take notes in a meeting. The same holds true for me. So it got me to thinking about how important it is for all of us to share our interest in fine pens and get others excited about the possibilities they offer. Whether you consider a pen a fashion accessory, a writing tool, a collectible, or even a status symbol, let others know about the joy and fun they bring. Tell them there’s a whole community of people who love them, talk about them and read about them (and, of course, buy them). We, after all, are the ones who drive the pen market and incite manufacturers to stretch the limits and offer new and exciting products each and every season. Unfortunately it sometimes seems like pens are the world’s best-kept secret. Pass on your interest and insure their future. And leave the hotel pens where they belong—in the room.

Is it a collection, or is it just a lot of pens?

I have a lot of pens, and I assume you do, too, since last week’s survey on this site (How many pens do you own?) revealed that more than half of the respondents own more than 50. Since I know some of you, I also know that, like me, you own MANY more than that. But are you a collector or do you just like pens? Take the following test to find out:

I purchase pens…

a) with premeditation

b) as an impulse buy

Do you keep all the original packaging?

a)     yes

b)    no

Do you catalog your pens in any way?

a)     yes

b)    no

Do you gravitate toward a certain brand purchasing just about everything they produce and often ordering it before it ever hits the stores?

a)     yes

b)    no

Do you own any other collectibles?           

            a)  yes

            b)  no

Is there a “theme” to your pens (such as a certain era, color, manufacturer, etc.)?

a)     yes

b)    no

Do you keep track of the current value of your pens?

a)     yes

b)    no

Of course there are many other ways to tell what type of pen aficionado you might be, but if you answered mostly “a”, you are most likely a collector. But you probably already knew that.

Surprise, at least to me...

Of the people who responded to my last poll (the question: What is the source of your pen purchases?), 66 percent said they purchased their pens online. The remaining number was equally distributed among “pens shops,” “mass market stores” and “other collectors.” Powerful sales medium, this Internet is. It makes me wonder about the fate of brick-and-mortar stores, particularly since I am of the generation that remembers what personal service is all about. These days, most people think good service is getting an item on time and as described, and of course this is important. But I also like being wooed by the touch of a prospective purchase or the ambience of a store and its personnel. It’s retail foreplay.