Just a quick update from the Washington DC Pen Show. This was my sixteenth (16th) year that I have displayed my pens at this show and it was the best show in all those years! My first show was with Rich Kleinheinz in 2004, where we split a booth because we did not know if our “hand made” pens would sell at a Fountain Pen show. We were pleasantly surprised and I have been attending ever since. I believe that the key for successful sales over the years is absolutely having new items for sale each year. I have “regular” customers that come each year to see what new pens I have and each year I pick up another new customer that asks me if this was my first year to display at the show! They looked shocked when I tell them it was my 16th year there.
My new pen for this year was my “Moon Tree” pen which I sold several of them. The pen is made from Sycamore seeds that flew to the moon and back on Apollo 14. I told you about this pen in my last blog. Fountain Pens were of course the most popular but the inlay kits from Kallenshaan still remain a very strong seller! Every year at this show I see more and more younger people asking for fountain pens which is a very exciting trend. Of course you still get the odd person who asks who uses a pen anymore? But then again why are they there at a fountain pen show? Still it was a great show and I hope it carries over to my next high end craft show in September in Tarrytown, NY. Talk to you later – Happy Turning -Barry
Thanks for the update. You guys over there have a much larger selection of kits to choose from than us in the UK, cost of shipping can be a deal breaker.
I think a couple of key points about a wooden fountain pen is making something different people can relate to. You did really well getting the seeds. Good luck in the future shows and keep making.
John,
Thank you for the kind words. It is frustrating for pen makers in the UK because of the cost to ship kits to you. Trust me I wold love to ship them more cost effectively but I am limited by our postal service. Good luck – Barry