11 March, 2022
5 Things Not To Do When Purchasing Promotional Pens
Pens are a powerful way to promote any business and it has been that way for years. There are some specific things you should look out for to make sure you get the right pen, and there are definitely some things to avoid. So you choose the right pen for your next promotion we wanted to list the top 5 things we consider you should NOT do when purchasing printed pens.
- Ink Refill: When buying your pens, you want them to last. There is no point using your marketing budget on a pen, only to find they start running out of ink after a few months or worse still they don’t work at all. Take note of the refill. Most suppliers should state how many metres the ink will write for. If it is one use only then look for a refill that is at least 1500m. Those very cheap plastic pens you see advertised usually only have 600 to 800m writing capacity. For only a few cents more you can get a larger refill. If you can get a pen with a refill that can be changed, even better. Good quality plastic pens or metal pens often have a Parker or Cross style refill. This means either the client can get refills for the pen to use it longer, or you can possibly send them a free refill every six months or so. This will also give you an excuse to get back in touch.
- Avoid skinny pens: Slimline pens can look good, but the branding area is very limited to usually only one line of text. Look for a barrel that has at least 7mm printable height. This will allow for two lines of text instead of one, so you can put your company name and then either a website or phone number. You want to get some type of business contact detail on the pen. The object of giving the pen is to advertise and remind people of your business. In order to do that you want to make sure the pen has enough details on it.
- Avoid twist-action mechanisms: Even though we sell twist action pens on our website, we strongly recommend push-button pens. The first reason is a push-button is much easier to operate. In a twist-action, you have to use both hands which aren’t always convenient. You want your pen to become their favourite and to do that it needs to be easy to use, so ensure you pick a push-button action. The other to avoid are pens with caps, especially plastic pens. The caps are annoying and if lost, quite often those styles of pens will try out in the nib.
- Get A Grip: Don’t buy a pen that doesn’t have some type of grip for people to hold onto. There is nothing more annoying than trying to write and finding your hand is slipping off the pen Some pens look very sleek, but they are not functional. You have many options to pick from, whether you go for a rubber grip, silicone or one that is ribbed, just ensure there is something for people to hold onto.
- Avoid Plain Pens: Don’t be boring! There are plenty of eye-catching pen designs, so don’t get caught out by getting something plain and boring. Add a swirl or splash of colour in the trims and grips. You want this pen to be their favourite and make an impression, so don’t get a boring plain coloured barrel pen. Try contrasting colours for the barrel and trim or one that has different textures on the pen.
There are 1,000’s of pens to choose from on the internet. If you follow the above guide, you should end up with a nice pen that people will want to use. Otherwise, you can always browse our site and then contact us. We can help guide you in getting the best pen to suit your promotion.
The Pens Only Team