Interesting article about gel pens from Legami, an Italian company.
Looks like competition and price of materials is causing slower sales. Stabilo and Pelikan are going to be cutting jobs. Even the company who makes sharpies is struggling.
It's not surprising that in a time of economic difficulties and uncertainties, people spend less on luxury goods. I'm not sure that one can compare the reasons for Legami's success with those of Pelikan's or Stabilo's poor performance. These companies operate in quite different segments of the pen market.
I think the article points towards the “fun” aspect of stationery, and compares it to some other companies that lean on “luxury.” Which is interesting since most pen manufacturers have a range of products at different prices.
The part that confuses me is that the company that produces sharpies is struggling as well. I wonder if it’s connected to lower cost competitors?
It's too broad an observation to say most makers have a range of products at different prices. Pelikan sells both high-end luxury fountain pens and everyday ballpoints. The same is not true of Legami. That has a significant impact on a business's costs.
Sharpie is likely facing very low-cost competition coming in from Asia.
It's such a shame. They make very nice pens. However, speaking personally, I find it very hard to justify buying a M800 or M1000 after getting a Pilot Custom 845 urushi in blue for a very good price.
The whole idea of a "luxury fountain pen" is a bankrupt concept, IMO.
This is like all the joking Montblanc got about their "precious resin" when it's the same basic plastic everyone else uses.
The problem for "luxury fountain pen" makers is that it takes some knowledge to recognize that Pelikans are nice pens, but by the time someone acquires that much knowledge, they find out about the high quality Asian pens for much much cheaper.
So where is the "luxury"?
You can't just put a logo on a pen and impress people the way you can with handbags. Who knew?
I mean I think at this point, luxury means it was made by a person in Europe rather than China lmao. Which fairly or unfairly a lot of consumers put a premium on. I think the problem for the Pelikans of the world is that it’s a saturated market at the high end of prices (Montblanc, Pelikan, GvFC, Aurora, Visconti, etc.) and most people in this hobby are not rich and have settled on a certain number of low-mid cost favorites. I mean I love my Pelikans, but I’m a PhD student lol
It’s interesting that of all the pen companies mentioned in the article, Montblanc is the only one strictly in the luxury market. The rest are in the office supply or art supply market as well. Caran D’Ache may sell a million-dollar fountain pen, but it’s selling a lot more 849 ballpoints.
If you're going to criticize the concept of a luxury pen then at least choose any brand other than the most shallow. Nakaya exists, Elbwood exists, Namiki exists, Caran d'Ache exists. China cannot create CdA's straw marquetry piece. China cannot create anything Nakaya or Namiki creates. China cannot create a single thing Yard-O-Led makes. On the topic of Montblanc, China cannot create their actual high end pieces, such as the James Purdley & Sons piece. China cannot even create the Homo Sapiens. It cannot create Sailor's mono no aware.
Good point! Focusing on a wide range can be useful in terms of diversifying customers, but it can also be a hindrance if a particular item doesn’t sell well.
Newell owns a bunch of other brands, including storage and kitchen supplies, so even though the article specifically calls out Sharpies it could be that other parts of their portfolio are struggling as much or more.
I'd also say Sharpie is nowadays outperformed in a lot of segments, so an example is here in Australia, lots of trade workers are going away from Sharpie towards Empire markers as they perform better on greasy metals, dirty timber etc and the tips hold up better to being drawn on concrete too.
Not just empire either, lots of tool brands are getting in on the marker thing in one way or another, either directly with their own brand or through purchase of another..
I know that's anecdotal and the tradesman portion of Australia is a very small market segment, but it only takes a few small market segments to be cooked these days.
This is an interesting list! You’re probably right that the whole burden isn’t on Sharpie as a whole, but likely a combination of slower sales in general
Pelikan firing half of its German workforce sounds like one of those shortsighted moves that can turn a decline into a deathspin. I have to say I'm worried.
I am not well educated in the pen economy but the article reads to me like Legami is benefiting from being the current fad in an otherwise struggling market.
No problem! I was definitely surprised by that fact as well. The same magazine had an article about European governments digitizing components of the system. Less paper forms would be less opportunity to write in pen.
They also had an article about how the Danish post office will no longer send letters/cards, which is really sad
In some parts of the world "sharpie" has become the ubiquitous term for "permanant marker". I also thought this was funny, and then I looked into it and it got funnier. The dude signs stuff with them!!!!
I'm flat broke and sign things with a nicer pen than the U.S. president!
It's sad that so many people are losing their jobs but I'm not able to control the economy by myself. :( I've almost given up on Pelikan. Too many other brands are doing better.
I've said for ages that embracing these chinese products comes at the cost of everything else. People here need to relax the trillion-pen-collection hyperconsumerism and instead support the original manufacturers that are basically going to die otherwise. I am very proud to say that after 3 years I have only made two purchases and that one of them is a caran d'ache
Thank you for sharing. Interesting that the article completely ignores Pilot, the first company I think of when I think cute and trendy pens, in addition to their great fountain pens.
The article is admittedly pretty short, and I think they were focused on European brands.
I ended up looking at the Legami website and thought it was interesting how a lot of the pens featured touch screen styluses. It seems like they are trying to make it more of a hybrid writing instrument
It's not surprising that in a time of economic difficulties and uncertainties, people spend less on luxury goods. I'm not sure that one can compare the reasons for Legami's success with those of Pelikan's or Stabilo's poor performance. These companies operate in quite different segments of the pen market.
I think the article points towards the “fun” aspect of stationery, and compares it to some other companies that lean on “luxury.” Which is interesting since most pen manufacturers have a range of products at different prices.
The part that confuses me is that the company that produces sharpies is struggling as well. I wonder if it’s connected to lower cost competitors?
It's too broad an observation to say most makers have a range of products at different prices. Pelikan sells both high-end luxury fountain pens and everyday ballpoints. The same is not true of Legami. That has a significant impact on a business's costs.
Sharpie is likely facing very low-cost competition coming in from Asia.
Yeah I wonder where Pelikan’s losses are concentrated. I would imagine luxury fountain pens, but I’m curious.
It's such a shame. They make very nice pens. However, speaking personally, I find it very hard to justify buying a M800 or M1000 after getting a Pilot Custom 845 urushi in blue for a very good price.
Yeah I think it’s just not a great time to be making luxury anything. Belts are tightening across the globe rn
https://preview.redd.it/za3rlqeqcj6g1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=497f7e79d9e956323ac8123d21b3a3251acc7afc
The whole idea of a "luxury fountain pen" is a bankrupt concept, IMO.
This is like all the joking Montblanc got about their "precious resin" when it's the same basic plastic everyone else uses.
The problem for "luxury fountain pen" makers is that it takes some knowledge to recognize that Pelikans are nice pens, but by the time someone acquires that much knowledge, they find out about the high quality Asian pens for much much cheaper.
So where is the "luxury"?
You can't just put a logo on a pen and impress people the way you can with handbags. Who knew?
I mean I think at this point, luxury means it was made by a person in Europe rather than China lmao. Which fairly or unfairly a lot of consumers put a premium on. I think the problem for the Pelikans of the world is that it’s a saturated market at the high end of prices (Montblanc, Pelikan, GvFC, Aurora, Visconti, etc.) and most people in this hobby are not rich and have settled on a certain number of low-mid cost favorites. I mean I love my Pelikans, but I’m a PhD student lol
It’s interesting that of all the pen companies mentioned in the article, Montblanc is the only one strictly in the luxury market. The rest are in the office supply or art supply market as well. Caran D’Ache may sell a million-dollar fountain pen, but it’s selling a lot more 849 ballpoints.
If you're going to criticize the concept of a luxury pen then at least choose any brand other than the most shallow. Nakaya exists, Elbwood exists, Namiki exists, Caran d'Ache exists. China cannot create CdA's straw marquetry piece. China cannot create anything Nakaya or Namiki creates. China cannot create a single thing Yard-O-Led makes. On the topic of Montblanc, China cannot create their actual high end pieces, such as the James Purdley & Sons piece. China cannot even create the Homo Sapiens. It cannot create Sailor's mono no aware.
Good point! Focusing on a wide range can be useful in terms of diversifying customers, but it can also be a hindrance if a particular item doesn’t sell well.
Newell owns a bunch of other brands, including storage and kitchen supplies, so even though the article specifically calls out Sharpies it could be that other parts of their portfolio are struggling as much or more.
I'd also say Sharpie is nowadays outperformed in a lot of segments, so an example is here in Australia, lots of trade workers are going away from Sharpie towards Empire markers as they perform better on greasy metals, dirty timber etc and the tips hold up better to being drawn on concrete too.
Not just empire either, lots of tool brands are getting in on the marker thing in one way or another, either directly with their own brand or through purchase of another..
I know that's anecdotal and the tradesman portion of Australia is a very small market segment, but it only takes a few small market segments to be cooked these days.
This is an interesting list! You’re probably right that the whole burden isn’t on Sharpie as a whole, but likely a combination of slower sales in general
Pelikan firing half of its German workforce sounds like one of those shortsighted moves that can turn a decline into a deathspin. I have to say I'm worried.
I am not well educated in the pen economy but the article reads to me like Legami is benefiting from being the current fad in an otherwise struggling market.
That's what it is, they focused on a niche and they're the new hotness with the kids.
Smiggle in Australia is doing much the same thing, but with a wider range of products.
https://preview.redd.it/97aix1t0bj6g1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=0665fad4b849315cd648e760693e0873ed2017ba
No problem! I was definitely surprised by that fact as well. The same magazine had an article about European governments digitizing components of the system. Less paper forms would be less opportunity to write in pen.
They also had an article about how the Danish post office will no longer send letters/cards, which is really sad
https://preview.redd.it/qjkczln9kl6g1.jpeg?width=2424&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=95f116c3e7a9a17b7ab2db3c4409cdba110c570f
Them = The Economist
https://preview.redd.it/0kxk20dhml6g1.jpeg?width=2418&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb6b084bb69f9d9bf84f67e039732f43d8077343
... did they think that's where people know Sharpie from?
"Sharpie, sharpie... Eh, never heard of them... wait! You mean the marker Trump uses?!"
In some parts of the world "sharpie" has become the ubiquitous term for "permanant marker". I also thought this was funny, and then I looked into it and it got funnier. The dude signs stuff with them!!!!
I'm flat broke and sign things with a nicer pen than the U.S. president!
It's ridiculous, but fitting, as he is a clown.
It's sad that so many people are losing their jobs but I'm not able to control the economy by myself. :( I've almost given up on Pelikan. Too many other brands are doing better.
I've said for ages that embracing these chinese products comes at the cost of everything else. People here need to relax the trillion-pen-collection hyperconsumerism and instead support the original manufacturers that are basically going to die otherwise. I am very proud to say that after 3 years I have only made two purchases and that one of them is a caran d'ache
Thank you for sharing. Interesting that the article completely ignores Pilot, the first company I think of when I think cute and trendy pens, in addition to their great fountain pens.
The article is admittedly pretty short, and I think they were focused on European brands.
I ended up looking at the Legami website and thought it was interesting how a lot of the pens featured touch screen styluses. It seems like they are trying to make it more of a hybrid writing instrument
r/stationery
Very cool... Love the punny names. Pen-tastic!
I have to remember to use “penchant” more when talking about pens.
As long as it doesn't create pendemonium! Darn - did i just open Pendora's box?
I love it. My partner always looks at me in feigned disgust when I make a pen pun. I am adding these to the list.
Thank you 😊
You could give your partner a pen-ny for their thoughts.
https://preview.redd.it/vmynpqpygj6g1.png?width=1264&format=png&auto=webp&s=e44865dfa3becaac62ecbc48832fde3ee6cb2691