For most people, the pen seems to have become a flash point in the distant memory, which seems to be difficult to see in daily life. Even the handwritten words seem to be left behind in the era of electronic office and forgotten in the dusty corner.
When you take out a pen, people around you tend to cast a surprised look. When you ask them, many people shake their heads, "The pen is too troublesome, and it needs to be filled with ink. A neutral pen is enough for writing." "My character is too ugly to use a pen", "Now it is electronic office, it is not necessary to use a pen", all of these are voices, which make the pen mark of weakness.
Once upon a time, owning a pen was not only a symbol of fashion and identity, but also a representative of knowledge.
In 1884, Lewis Edson Waterman invented the pen, which completely changed the way people write. In the next 100 years, the pen is the most popular writing tool of mankind.
Even today, some people still have a deep love for pens. In their eyes, different pens can give people different feelings and are a source of ritual and pleasure in life.
In the era of writing and forgetting words, pen sales increased instead of falling
Is it true that the pen that can't get up under the pressure of neutral pen and keyboard will come to an end?
When Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, was interviewed by ABC in 2015, he blurted out the pen when asked "what is commonly used now may die in 10 years".
This may be seen as the implicit negation and abandonment of the old school artifacts by the emerging Internet generation. But the reality is a joke. The 10-year period is approaching, and the global pen sales have been stable or even slightly increased, which is enough to explain many problems.
According to the statistics of authoritative institutions, the output and demand of pens in China will maintain a growth trend in 2021. In 2021, the output of fountain pens in China will reach 293 million, an increase of 30 million compared with 2020, with a year-on-year increase of 11.0%; The demand reached 213 million pieces, an increase of 100 million pieces over 2020, with a year-on-year increase of 91.4%.
Instead of worrying about the disappearance of pens, the pen industry has also broken free from the falling quagmire. Many pen enterprises have regained the favor of consumers through various means and have a good life again.
Pen -- not limited to new favorites and old things in stationery market
In the past, stationery stores were the first choice to buy pens. Now, the sales scene of pens has been too broad. Luxury stores, gift stores and auction houses can see it. Many large supermarkets have counters for brand-name pens. There are all kinds of pens on the market from high-end to people-friendly, and the price of high-end pens is even as high as tens of thousands.
The pen with exquisite design and deep cultural connotation has long been regarded as a decent and tasteful gift with appropriate value. Now this function option seems to be more magnified, and it is favored in the gift market.
On the basis of preserving practicality, the value of pen in "luxury coat" doubled. From the pen tip to the pen holder to the pen cap, K gold, platinum, gold-plated, inlaid with crystal and diamond, a pen can easily be sold at tens of thousands of thousands of prices. Montblanc is well aware of this. In the late 1980s, it learned a lot and cut down on low and medium priced products, focusing on high-end products. A limited edition pen inlaid with diamonds from Montblanc sells for up to $1.5 million.
There is also a place for precious pens in the collection market, with high collection value and investment value. Antique pens of various brands produced in the 1940s and 1950s are the most popular, with the transaction price of tens of thousands of yuan for good quality, and the pens sold in limited quantities are particularly outstanding in the auction market.
The elegance of writing never goes out of style
For those who prefer handwriting, the writing experience of pen is irreplaceable. The pen is used, but the feeling is written. Therefore, the pen has not been abandoned by the world, and many practitioners insist on using the pen to sign documents or express one thing. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, writers... Sometimes this is regarded as a courtesy to express respect.
The pen will not be out of date, nor will it become old. It has only changed from a necessary tool that was once extremely popular to a minority hobby in some groups. Sitting at the table, holding the beloved pen, feeling the wonderful touch when the pen tip rubs against the paper, and recording the flash of inspiration. Back and forth on the paper, the night and heart become more peaceful.
