Sep

11

The Michigan Pen Show – September 7th & 8th, 2007

Filed Under Pen Shows 

Written by: Maryann Zucker

Maryann Zucker is owner and operator of PenstopOnline and Empire Writing Instruments, Ltd. They will be hosting the NY/NJ Pen Show later this month, September 28th through the 30th. For more information on the NY/NJ Pen Show, see our event calendar, or visit http://www.nycpenshow.com

As a show promoter, I look at a show a little differently than if I were an attendee. My husband Steve and I host the New York City, now NY/NJ, Pen Show. We have been hosting that show since September 2001 until present. We are also the owners and operators of PenstopOnline and Empire Writing Instruments, Ltd., home of Signum Pens.

Now, that said I am an avid pen collector and have been collecting pens for more years than I would like to admit. We started attending pen shows in the mid 90’s after our boys were in college. On a visit to one of them in Boston, we ran into an advertisement for the Boston Pen Show. Up to that point I had no idea there were shows like this and the rest is history.

For the past several years we have attended most, if not all of the current pen shows. We are usually set up in two locations, Steve handling the PenstopOnline merchandise and myself showing the Signum line of pens and offering a testing station to familiarize people with the product. The Michigan Pen Show was to be just like any other for us, Steve handling PenstopOnline and me showing Signum. We arrived in Troy, MI at the Hilton Hotel at about 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 6 after driving from our Brooklyn, New York location, an 11 hour drive across I-80.

When we arrived we met up with Lee Chait of Parker 75, and several other exhibitors. Lee Chait and his partner Lih Tah Wong are the owners of the Parker 75 website and sell a wonderful collection of Parker pens, memorabilia and accessories. Lih Tah is also one of the organizers of the Michigan Pen Show, along with Eric Fonville, Mike Krut, and several other Michigan Pen Club members. Steve, Lee and I went to the local restaurant attached to the hotel, had a nice leisurely dinner, and called it an early night.

Friday morning many of the exhibitors started arriving and setting up. The room was open from about 10:00 A.M. and the public admission was to be at 2:00 P.M. There was some early trading and a lot of greetings and pen conversations.

This is a small, intimate club driven show with the look and feel of a large club meeting of good friends. There was some trading and sales between dealers, and before long it was 2:00 P.M. and the doors opened to the public.

The show is hosted by the efforts of a few of the club members who expend a lot of energy, time and money making it feel comfortable, well organized, convenient, and most of all, fun for everyone. The attendance, I am told, was increased from last year, when I was not able to attend. This is a difficult show for some dealers and manufacturers to get to because of its location and size. However, it is well represented and well attended. Some of the dealers present who travelled long distances were Jimmy Dolive of Total Office Products and Lee Chait, Georgia; Mike Conway and Susan Wirth, Wisconsin; Bill Weakly, Maryland; Terry Mawhorter and Aaron Svabik of Ohio; Steve and I and Paul Erano from New York, to name just a few. Paradise Pen’s local store set up an exhibit table and so did some of the active club members.

As you can see from the pictures, the show was not crowded at any one time, but there was always a steady flow of customers, giving all of us enough time to talk to people and them to us. Smaller shows are always a plus for new collectors who need the attention and time with a seller so they can learn a bit more about the pens and the hobby. This is certainly that kind of show.

Aaron Svabik, a very talented and charismatic young man was set up for onsite pen repair and after just a few minutes, he was busy talking and working on pens for both dealers and customers. The kept busy throughout the show. He was accompanied by his lovely wife, Kim who graciously volunteered to sit at the PCA table recruiting members and talking to the children who were accompanying their parents. The PCA has initiated a Pen Hunt for children at each show. They are given a booklet with a list of items that they must try to find at various tables during the show. The ones who find the most items or all of the items are the winners. The kids love this and it is a good learning experience for them as well.

Ralph Stillwell, long time member of the Michigan Pen Show has been teaching children from the local schools about pens and writing instruments for some time. He runs lectures or seminars at the schools with the aid of the local school board. Ralph also gives pens to kids who come to the show, when he can get the pens to give. Many times he has to purchase them with his own money. While we were discussing this, he told me that it gives him pleasure and he does not mind at all. He enjoys the interaction with the children and they look forward to his classes. Kudos to Ralph for a job well done.

The show was open from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. When the show closed a large group of us went to the local restaurant, had a relaxing dinner, and enjoyed the company bringing a good day to a great end.

Saturday morning the show open at 10:00 A.M. and there was again a strong and steady flow of people most of the day. There were no overwhelming crowds which for me are a plus. A large group of collectors drove down from our northern neighbor Canada and we had a great time with them. I missed the Toronto Pen Show this year so it was great to see old friends and familiar faces.

Some dealers appeared to be busier than others, but after several conversations it was the consensus that business was evenly distributed and no one were complaining.

In summing up the show, for me it was a great show, I have had better business at other shows, but that is not always the criteria attached to good or bad show results. While I did not ask who did business or who did not, I simply asked if everyone had fun and the response was overwhelmingly “yes” and that is the real bottom line.

Kudos to all those associated with the show they did and always do a fine job and deserve our support.

Comments

Leave a Reply