Promo Pen Collector

Nowadays we have all sorts of “smart” technology. Phones are no longer just phones - they have morphed into portable computers that can do everything from provide internet access to keep track of your finances. So why should the pen industry lag behind? This “Smart Pen” made by Livescribe is a really cool step in that direction. The pen has all sorts of cool features, such as the ability to record a lecture while you jot down notes about it. You can then review the audio recording by tapping on your notes to hear what was being said at the time you were writing. Seems really cool for college courses or anyone who wants to make sure they get the most out of a lecture.

I wonder how long until the common promotional pens we see at tradeshows become mini-computers like the Livescribe Pulse Smart Pen? Hopefully soon…

Now that’s a pen collection!

Jeffrey Caren M.D. collects promotional pens- thousands of them! According to a Cedars-Sinai interview, he mounted the collection of pens pharmaceutical reps gave him and now displays the impressive assortment in his office.

Here’s a little clip of the exchange:

“I call my collection “Some Kind of Persuasion.” It’s really meant to trivialize the process. In my mind, the encounter is reduced to a $1 pen.

Does it work?

No. Now they just bring me more pens.”

Part of me wants to laugh at the irony. They continue to bring more pens! But part of me is a little sad about his collection; do these pens really dictate what doctors decide to prescribe to us? Is the entire drug industry balanced on a budget writing utensil?

Still, I wonder if anyone ever gave him a bone pen or mortar and pestle shaped pen? Those are some of my favorites for medical companies (whether it’s right or wrong, the pens are still pretty darn cool!)

Recently, the gym I’ve been taking classes at was trying to figure out how to promote their new Basketball courts. They finally settled on promotional basketball pens and I love them!

For the last week I’ve been slowly stealing a pen a day from the reception desk. They have basketballs painted on the sides and the gym’s name around the middle. That way, when people like me take them home we’re still getting the word out. Every time I whip out my basketball pen at the office I get tons of questions about it (or in some cases, giggles) so it certainly gets attention.

It’d be a great gimmick for a kids sports team as well, I know I would’ve gone bonkers over a Volleyball pen in Middle School.

Here’s one that’s even cooler than the ones I’ve been collecting (and customizable!). For any sports fans out there, I found some other fun non-pen sports merchandise at Teamschwag.com.

As a connoisseur of the finer things, I appreciate the quality and craftsmanship of a solid promotional pen. They look good, are made of the finest materials, and work with your hand not against it. This reduces tension on your hands and wrists, and helps erase hand discomfort. Enjoy writing again, and indulge your inner writer with an sleek custom pen.

So we have talked about cereal box pen giveaways before, but I just found another that is just as cool. This promotional pen uses an invisible ink, which I remember was always fun to play with when I was a kid.

Nothing gives you that morning sugar rush like a warm toasty frosted Pop Tart. This vintage promotional pen from Kellogg’s is pretty neat.

Remember those cute polar bear mascots from Coca-Cola. You usually see them at holiday time, but I found this one a little earlier then Christmas. This promotional pen comes in an awesome case and looks really good. I bet it was really successful for Coke.

I have discussed floaty pens before. But I think this is the largest collection of floaty pens I have come across so far.

I had shown one of these pens earlier in the week. At the time I couldn’t find the whole set but now I have tracked down all of the Stand Alone Olympic Pens.

The next in this series of promotional olympic pens, are these really neat feather pens. Each pen represents a different mascot from the Beijing Olympics.