Oh the mighty pen

Hey Halifax,

What’s on your desk? They say the pen is mightier than the sword; and the likelihood is you have a few promotional pens knocking around. In fact, in Autumn last year the BPMA did some research to find out what sorts of promo items people are using and keeping for longest, and it’ll come as no surprise that the promotional pen is still rocking the charts in the promotional popularity contest!

Writing by hand is still appreciated by many of us as something special and highly personal, despite living in an age where we’re used to typing on a keyboard. What impressed me about pens is their staying power- the research showed that 89% of those asked about which promotional items they use, and which they are most likely to keep – said pens. Not only that; but a whopping 83% of people said they have purchased from the companies that have supplied them with a promotional gift – so promo pens have still got it (and never lost it) and probably never will.

So why are pens such a great promotional item for your marketing campaigns?

Real value for money Thats Why!
Many companies keep more than one style of pen and depending on the occasion and who they are giving it to determines the style.
The first thing to consider when choosing a promotional pen is who are the target audience and what giving scenario will they receive the pen? By ‘giving scenario’ I mean, for example, personally giving a gift to your best client(s) – which is very different to say, giving free promotional pens as giveaways at an event or tradeshow. Also, the quality of the pen can be determined by the type of material it’s made from, for example:

• Plastic Pens: These are generally the most popular type of pen and are more often purchased in high volumes at lower prices, so work well for brand awareness campaigns using events or direct mail to reach a larger audience.
• Metal Pens:These are particularly useful if you want to portray a more high quality brand image, especially if you opt for brushed metal / satin finishes, which exude premium quality. They can be used for general gift-giving scenarios such as special conferences/seminars within a gift pack, or as a special gift for specific clients. They tend to still be cost-effective as they can still be purchased in bulk.
• Executive Pens:These tend to be more expensive and premium – which is why they are often top choice for companies wanting to send an extra special gift for their best clients.

We still admire the power of the pen to help us stay close to our customers. Great “bang for the buck” advertising.