The 1st NJ Pen Club Meeting

Hey Everyone in the Tri-State Area,

It's official! We're ON for our first NJ Pen Club Meeting!

The meet will be hosted at the Hazlet Township Public Library on Saturday, May 23rd at 11am.

Proposed Agenda :

• Meet & Greet - fun icebreaker activity to allow everyone to introduce themselves.
• Inks, the good, the bad and the Noodler's - We talk favorite & least favorite inks for our pens. What makes a great ink? Which inks will you stay away from? Be sure to bring a pen or two to sample a bit of ink we'll bring.
• Snap the Perfect Pen Pic - I will lead a quick demonstration on the basics behind taking awesome photos of your pens & inks with a smartphone. 
• Peruse some Pens - We'll be bringing an assortment of contemporary pens to view, handle and sample. We encourage other members to bring in their pens they would like to show as well. We ask for everyone to be respectful of each other's collection and to ask before handling.
• Planning our Next Meeting - We'll discuss the agenda of our future meeting, the main activities we can plan and open the floor to any ideas to make the club a more enjoyable experience. We'll also talk about the proposed NJ Pen Club website and social media presence.

Coffee and Snacks will be provided. Goodie bags filled with pen-related treats will be given to each attendee for this initial meeting. There is also a possibility of a prize we might raffle.

If you haven't already received our e-mail and would like to join in on the fun, please contact tom@goldspot.com to RSVP so we know to expect you.

According to the policies of the Monmouth County Library System, we are restricted from transacting business at the meeting. However, it will be permissible for us (Goldspot) to provide you with our business cards and access to our website with an exclusive, members-only discount to purchase any of the pens and inks that you may be looking for at the meeting. We believe that this restriction will add to a more welcoming experience that isn't sales-driven.

General membership to the club is totally free. We may decide to ask for a fee for specific workshops that include nib tuning, pen repair or calligraphic handwriting when we hire an outside specialist to come and lead the workshop.

Would You Hop a Ride on the Pen Express?

Are you from Northern / Central NJ (or New York) and would love to attend the Washington DC Pen Supershow this August?

We are looking to create the opportunity for you, and other pen lovers from the area, to take a day trip down to Sheraton's Premier in Vienna, VA to attend the United States' largest fountain pen exhibition on Saturday, August 11th. The proposed trip would depart at 6am Saturday morning from the Goldspot office at 1230 Highway 34, Aberden, NJ [Exit 120 on the Parkway] to arrive at the show around 10am. See the show, buy some pens, try some ink and go see the sights in DC. Come back to the Sheraton for a 5pm departure back to NJ. Depending on traffic, we would probably arrive back in Aberdeen around 9-9:30pm. It would be a nice, long day of drooling over pens, meeting folks who also love pens and...more pens.

We are currently sourcing and pricing charter buses in the area. In order to get an exact idea of price per person, we need your help to come up with an approximate head count. All we ask is for people who are interested in joining our pilgrimage is to comment below. There is no financial commitment at this point, we are just looking to gauge the interest of the local pen community. Once we have an idea of how many people we can expect, we will be able to provide pricing and flesh out the details. The timing and departure location is not set in stone, so if you are interested, but the schedule does not work for you, please advise what would best work for you.

You may comment here or leave a comment on the thread started on Fountain Pen Network.

In Case you Missed the 2012 LA Pen Show

We, along with most folks on the East Coast, really wish that we were just coming back from bright and sunny LA, full of pens, ink and goodies from the LA Pen Show that just ended yesterday. Unfortunately, a cross-country trip just wasn't in the cards for us this year, which is a sentiment that many pen enthusiasts are lamenting about as well.

Lets not hang our nibs in despair just yet! If you missed the show, there are a few wonderful blog posts out there that captured the penthusiasm and excitement of the weekend's show, complete with pictures of pens, pens and more pens!

Check out these links for more information on what went down at the LA Pen Show 2012:

FP Geeks - Coming to you Live at the LA Pen Show
FP Geeks - Friday Recap at the LA Pen Show
FP Geeks - Saturday Recap at the LA Pen Show
Note Booker, ESQ - My Afternoon at the LA Pen Show
Greg Minuskin -  Day One at the LA Pen Show
Edison Pens - LA was a Blast - added Feb 21st

Goldspot at the Philadelphia Pen Show

We're getting packed up and ready to make the trip down to the Philadelphia Pen Show at the Downtown Sheraton and wanted to give everyone a head's up on what to expect when you get down there.

First of all, weather is supposed to get a little unkind tomorrow, so be careful if you're making the drive. Secondly, we'll be setting up shop to get going when the show kicks off at 10am on Saturday morning. There should be plenty of signage in the lobby of the Sheraton to point  the way up the escalators to the ballroom that the show is being held.

To whet your appetite a little bit, here is a preview of the items we will have on hand to sell during the weekend:

The featured pen this year will be the Visconti Homo Sapiens Steel Age Collection. The lava of Mt. Etna is now available with stainless marine steel trim. We will also have the bronze age versions of the Homo Sapiens on sale as well. My Pen System personalization is free on any Visconti pen purchase.

We will have the very last of our TWSBI Diamond 540 clear pens (in broad point) and the ROC100 pens, which are still available in all point sizes. We will also have all color bands of the innovative TWSBI ink well on hand.

Although we don't have all the colors of the Noodler's flex nib pens, we do have a good amount of inventory that we will bring of the standard nib creeper and the Ahab pens.

We have the very last of the Pelikan m205 Blue Transparent fountain pens, which will be available at the show in extra-fine, fine, medium, broad and italic nib sizes.

Last year, many folks enjoyed the items we brought from the island of the misfit pens and we're doing the same this weekend as well. We will have nearly new pens that have engraving snafus and other slight cosmetic defects for a great value buy.

Of course, what would be the pen without the ink and paper. We will have most (if not all) the colors of the Pilot Iroshizuku ink, Pelikan Edelstein and J. Herbin. We will have Rhodia webbies and some staplebound notepads available as well.

Promotions - this weekend, you'll be able to take advantage of great Pen Show sale opportunities, along with the special promos you've come to know and love on our website. For example, orders over $35 will get a free Parker Leather Pen Case, while supplies last. Anything that we normally offer on the website, but we don't have in-person, you can buy with free shipping if your order is given at the show. Any orders we take for items not at the show will be entered and fulfilled on Monday when we get back.

For those of you that can't make it, we're sorry we missed you this time around! We'll take plenty of pictures of the crowd, the vendors and the PENS!

Come Join Us at the Philadelphia Pen Show

To pen-loving folks in the Northeast US and Beyond,

The Philadelphia Pen Show is coming to the Downtown Sheraton (within walking distance of Love Park, the Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Museum of Art) from Friday, January 20th through Sunday, the 22nd. Attendance has dramatically risen from year-to-year, offering a great cross-section of modern pen manufacturers (Visconti, Delta, Taccia, Sheaffer, etc.), vintage pen dealers, bespoke pen makers, and fine writing retailers. Exhibiting for the second consecutive year is yours truly, Goldspot Pens. We will have a nice selection of some of our best selling fine writing products, along with some special closeout deals, clearance pens and some "nearly new" one-offs and other special items that will be offered for special prices.

For more information, check out this flier (click to enlarge) :

If you're planning on attending, please feel free to stop by our booth and say, "hi!" We'd love to meet you!

Winner of the Philadelphia Pen Show Giveaway

Still settling in from the weekend at the Philadelphia Pen Show. We will go a bit more in-depth with a post later this week. In summary, it was a really great time and we are privileged to have met so many great people, including our customers, other exhibitors and vendors.

On to some business: Many of you that stopped by our table at the show signed up for a chance to win an Aurora Ipsilon rollerball with a black barrel and metal cap ($120 retail value). We also counted you if we got your e-mail address in an order. The ultimate winner was randomly selected by the random.org random number generator. Without further adieu, drumroll please..........

Rich B. from Delaware is our winner! He has been contacted by e-mail and has 30 days to confirm his address so we can send him the big prize. A big thanks to everyone who entered! Stay tuned on our blog for more impending giveaways and special offers from your inky friends at Goldspot Pens.

See You at the Big Show

The Philadelphia Pen Show started today, but Goldspot is showing up casually late to the party. The car's all packed up with oodles of pens and other goodies to feast your eyes on. We'll be bringing some limited editions and specialty items from brands like Visconti, Conway Stewart, Aurora and Montegrappa. We'll have a few bottles of Noodlers, Pelkan Edelstein and Pilot Iroshizuku ink - not every color under the sun, but enough to give you a taste. We'll also supply your paper needs like Michael Scott with our stock Rhodia webbies and staplebound classic notebooks.

Our BIG special will be that any item purchased at our table during the weekend will receive FREE SHIPPING. That's right, you can place an order for one refill at the show and we'll send it without shipping & handling charge. So, if we don't have it at the show, we'll ship it to you on Monday.

Even if you're browsing this weekend and not looking to buy, we're running a giveaway for a FREE Aurora rollerball. Simply sign up for our e-mail newsletter at the show and we will randomly choose the winner on Monday. We will contact the winner by e-mail and mail out the pen as soon as we get their address.

Check out our special Philadelphia Pen Show e-mail newsletter that we sent out this week to our e-mail subscribers. We used Tom's "Hand Drawn Moleskine" design that is currently being voted on in the E-mail Template Challenge. He's currently in the lead, but still needs your help as voting ends Jan 31st.

Hope to see you there!

Detailed Preview of Visconti's Declaration of Independence Pen

The initial response and buzz surrounding the release of Visconti's anticipated Declaration of Independence Limited Edition pen is suggesting that this will be one of Visconti's biggest pen releases...ever. Here are some sneak peak photos and details about the pen you may not have known.

Commemorating a pivotal moment in our Nation's history, along with the history of the modern world, the Declaration of Independence Ltd Ed presents itself as a historical collectible. The entire Declaration is done in scrimshaw around the barrel of the pen, visible enough to see with the naked eye. Every detail on this pen is so intricately superb that a magnifying glass is supplied in the box with each pen for its owner to further investigate the flawless craftsmanship and artistic handiwork of Visconti.

The Liberty Bell, one of the most iconic American symbols, is used in the fountain pen's plunger filler. This detail was previously not photographed in the initial press about this pen, so it is a real thrill for us to have a picture of this part.

Your first opportunity (and best chance to get a good edition number) would be at the Philadelphia Pen Show, which will be from Jan 21st to 23rd. Goldspot Pens will be there, with these pens-in-hand. You can pre-order this pen at Goldspot (call for pricing - serious inquiries only) and pick it up at the show, or have it shipped after the show is over. Any orders for the Declaration of Independence taken after we run out of stock will be fulfilled within the week following the show.

For more information on location, times, vendors and price for entry, please visit the Philadelphia Pen Show Website. Hope to see you there!

Pen Spotlight - Philadelphia Pen Show and Giveaway

Quick update on the giveaway that we posted a week ago : We're at over 50 entries and we will have the cut off later tonight at 11:59pm Eastern. Visit our post from last week for the instructions on how to enter the giveaway.

January 21st - 23rd (Friday - Sunday), The Philadelphia Pen Show will be hosted at the Sheraton Center City Hotel. If you are in the tri-state area and LOOOVE pens, this will certainly be the place to be that weekend. I will give you three solid reasons why any pen enthusiast will be punching their ticket for Philly :

#1 Visconti is debuting their hotly anticipated, limited edition Declaration of Independence pen. We are taking pre-orders on our site at the moment, but the first opportunity that collectors can get their hands on the pen will be at this show.  Goldspot has requested a few choice numbers for the fountain pen and matching rollerball. Michael Nutter, the mayor of Philadelphia, along with the Dante Del Vecchio, the owner of Visconti, will be on hand to introduce this historic pen to the public.

#2 Meet Smokin' Joe Frazier! To introduce the new Montegrappa Icons limited edition pen, Smokin' Joe will be at the show to shake hands and introduce a pen fit for a champion.

#3 We, the fine folks at Goldspot Pens will be attending the pen show as an exhibitor and will have a full selection of pens and accessories at special show prices. Since Montegrappa, Visconti and other brands will be present, you can try all the newest pens and get them delivered (by us) right to your door after the show!

More details to come as we get closer to the date. We're sending out e-mail reminders with updates to people who are subscribed to our newsletter list. Be back tomorrow to announce the giveaway winner!

Goldspot Pen Trunk Show Recap

Hey All,

Its been very busy with getting everything straightened out after the show. Had a lot of inventory to sort through and orders to process from over the weekend. Add to that the normal internet orders that come in 24/7 and you've got yourself quite a full plate. We just contacted the raffle prize winners. Congrats to all of you! Since we had such a variety of gifts to give out that could be for men or women, we gave our raffle winners the choice of picking on a first-come, first-serve basis.

While we are sharing a couple of pictures from the show on the blog, the full album can be found on Goldspot's Facebook Page. We had a fun time and hosting our own show was definitely a learning experience. Thanks to everyone for stopping by, even the people who may have never heard of us (or knew that expensive, fine pens existed) who happened to be in the mall that weekend. And special thanks to Wolf Fine Jewelers, who were gracious enough to share the store with us during the weekend and co-host the event.

And who could forget our sales reps that drove up to 3 hours out of their way to come out and support us? Big thanks goes out to Marty K., Dick K., and Ken for bringing their full lines of Aurora, Montegrappa, Delta, Filofax organizers, Lamy, Monteverde and Omas pens for everyone (including us) to drool over.

As far as doing another one of these in the near future, there may be a possibility, although very remote considering that our busiest time of year is coming up and we will be working some weekends just to fulfill everyone's orders for the Holidays. If anyone has a particular venue that they believe would be a great place to set up a pen show in New Jersey, please let us know and we will certainly consider it.

Pen Show Giveaway Raffle Prizes

Did you know we are having a pen trunk show this weekend? If not, check the info at the end of this post.
If so, did you also know that we are giving away free pen prizes in a huge raffle at the show?

That's right. And we have so many goodies that anyone has a great chance of winning. For example :

• 8 Blue Waterman Men's Ties
• 4 Gold Parker Pen Letter Openers
• 3 Gold Paper Weight Desk Rulers
• 2 Waterman Blue Leatherette Card Holders
• 2 Waterman Polishing Cloths
• 2 Parker Polishing Cloths
• 1 Waterman Silk Women's Scarf
• Special Give Away Pen from our Representing Manufacturers (yet to be determined exactly which models)

The only way to enter is to visit our show this weekend, Oct 9th & 10th and fill out a raffle ticket. We will pick the winners and mail them their prizes on Monday.

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Goldspot Pens Trunk Show
Oct 9th - 10th 11am - 5pm
Wolf Fine Jewelers @ Monmouth Mall
180 Route 35, Eatontown, NJ 07724
Map to Pen Show

New Pen Buying Guide

With our Pen Trunk Show weekend coming up next week (Oct 9th & 10th), we thought it would be helpful for those attending to get a few pointers from the experts when it comes to buying a new pen. Even the connoisseurs might pick up a tip or two when coming in to search for the perfect pen.

We here at Goldspot like for our customers to have the most knowledge up front so they can make an informed decision when it comes to investing in a new writing instrument. I couldn't tell you how many times I've made runs into the stock room to take a specific measurement for a client who wanted to know if the pen would be a good fit for their hand. So, with the selection of writing instruments that we will bring to the show, you can touch, feel and scribble with a number of pens that may be a great fit for you or a loved one.

Here are a few things you should take into consideration when shopping for a new pen:

• Style - First and foremost, your eyes will experience a pen far before your hand will. If the aesthetic attraction is not there, then most likely, you'll never feel the urge to pursue it any further. If you like the overall shape and model of the pen, but the color doesn't sit well with you, most likely, we'll have that same pen in multiple colors. Ask us if it does come in any other finishes.
• Pen Type - Ballpoint, Rollerball and Fountain Pen are your typical three choices. Of course, there are mechanical pencils, multi-pens and other variations, but the chief question to ask yourself is, "what am I using this pen for?" If you're out on a job site all-day or going door-to-door with a clipboard, you would want to consider the convenience of not having a cap. If you prefer a more fluid line or a more traditional pen to address invitations, journal or write the great American novel, you can easily consider a rollerball or fountain pen.
• Weight & Size - Putting the pen in your hand, you need to imagine the scenario that you have a blue exam book in front of you and two hours to complete the Final Essay question. How is your hand going to feel lugging around a heavy metal pen as opposed to a lightweight resin? Increased weight and size are also indications of a more luxurious feel, which may benefit you more if you are giving it to someone whom you want to impress with your gift.
• Writing Quality - Do you have to press hard to write with the tip? Does the ink flow nicely without skipping or smearing? Do you grip the pen uncomfortably, or feel that your grip is sliding as you write? Writing quality is a big make-or-break and don't be surprised if some less expensive pens write better than their luxury counterparts. By writing about a paragraph's worth of words, you can quickly get a feel for the tip or nib.
• Refills - Are the refills for this pen going to be easy to get? Well, if you would like to get them through Goldspot they would be. But if you have a Staples close by, you would want to know what you can find easily there. Cross, Parker and Waterman are commonly found there, but their selection is shrinking and they don't tend to carry all the colors. For a fountain pen, you would want to consider your preference in filling system. Do you prefer disposable ink cartridges or would like filling your pen from a bottle?
• Price - OF COURSE! How could I not mention this earlier. Searching for a new $20 pen offers a much different selection than if you have a $200 budget.  We'll have a large cross-section of pens on display that give you options at nearly every price point (even in the $1,000's!).  We want to make sure you'll get the most "bang for your buck," which is why we sent our invites to the show with a special coupon that you can use on your purchase.

The above guide should give you a good starting point to do your research and come ready to try out a few pens to make your decision. If there are any other pointers that I may have forgotten to mention which may be helpful for shoppers, please feel free to comment!

Pen Spotlight - Biodegradable Pens and the Eco-Roller

Hey Pen Folks,

Have a few blog posts to share that have videos, which I thought were really cool to watch. There should be more videos on pens around on the internet...

Everyone is looking to be more "green" and pen-makers are not an exception. Disposable ballpoint pens are still thrown in the landfills by the tons and are made of materials that do not decompose well, breaking down into toxic materials over a long period of time. Featured on the Josh Spear blog, the DBA 98 pen is specifically designed to be thrown in the compost after use. The video features a brilliant animation that clearly demonstrates the product's ecological benefits.

Speaking of ecologically-friendly, the Visconti Eco-Roller is featured on a demonstration video by Okami of her blog "Whatever : Visconti Rembrandt Followup." As you see in the video, it is a rollerball that fills like a fountain pen. Strikingly similar to the Monteverde Mega Ink Ball. Great for people who may be too intimidated by using a fountain pen because you don't have to worry about breaking the nib and having to get it repaired or replaced. The Eco Roller comes with a spare tip (as shown in the video) and additional tips can be purchased for a nominal cost of $9.95.

Update on the Pen Show at the Monmouth Mall : We're about a few weeks away and are getting very excited to put on the show for everyone. We will have brand representatives from Monteverde, Delta, Montegrappa, Aurora, OMAS, Lamy, Filofax and Yard-O-Led on hand to help you with any brand-specific questions you may have. There are going to be some Parker and Waterman door prizes like a necktie, letter opener and even a pen or two will be given away.

5 Reasons to Visit our Pen Show

First of all, I will apologize to our readers who will not be in the area the weekend of the pen show. We will have something special going on that weekend on the website so that you won't feel left out. For everyone that is within driving distance of the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown, New Jersey, we would like to encourage you to make the trip and visit us at the Pen Trunk Show. When : Saturday & Sunday October 9th - 10th, 11am - 5pm Where : Wolf Fine Jewelers at the Monmouth Mall, Eatontown NJ --Directions-- To further entice you to bring the family & friends, we would like to offer the following reasons why you NEED to be at this show:

• Browse the latest and greatest pens in person! With more brick-and-mortar pen retailers closing their doors, this is a rare opportunity to view an expansive collection of fine pens "in the flesh." We will allow you to dip test fountain pens to find the nib size that fits your style of writing.
• Find amazing deals and great gifts for the holidays. Ever visit the clearance section of our website? We have a ton of special closeout items that are up to 60% off retail price. Literally, it would probably be a ton if we brought it all. If we don't have what you're looking for at the show, we will ship it to you for no charge shipping & handling.
• Expert, knowledgeable advice from professional pen people. In addition to our Goldspot staff, we will have a few of the nicest brand representatives on hand to help with any question you may have about a Lamy, Aurora, Montegrappa, Monteverde, Delta or Conklin pen.
• Door prizes and contributions to Susan G Komen for the Cure. We will have pen-related door prizes and giveaways for those who stop by the show. Also, in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month every sale at the show will contributed toward a donation to the Susan G Komen for the Cure foundation.
• You get to meet us! Being an online retailer, we seldom get to see our loyal clients face-to-face. Many of you are on a first name basis with our employees and can rely on calling up and getting a helpful, familiar voice on the other end. We're as excited to meet you, so come on down!

The event is being co-hosted by Wolf Fine Jewelers, which will have their own fine jewelery and watches on display in the store. There will be something for everyone and you can make a day of it by visiting the other department stores and shops in the Monmouth Mall. The mall also has a nice food court and an attached Loews Movie Theatre. To receive updates and a special print-out coupon to bring to the event, please make sure you are signed up for our e-mail newsletter. You can RSVP to the event through the Pen Trunk Show Event created on Facebook.

Goldspot Pens Inaugural Trunk Show Announcement

We're proud to announce our Inaugural Goldspot Pens Trunk Show! When : Saturday & Sunday October 9th - 10th, 11am - 5pm Where : Wolf Fine Jewelers at the Monmouth Mall, Eatontown NJ --Directions-- No reservations required. We invite you to come to our showcase of fine writing instruments and accessories. We will have representatives of several major brands on-hand with the newest and best pens, along with our impressive selection of clearance items that are up to 60% off retail price. There will also be door prizes and giveaways. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, every sale will contribute toward the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure. To receive updates and a special print-out coupon to bring to the event, please make sure you are signed up for our e-mail newsletter. We'd love to see you there!

Pen Spotlight - Happy Birthday Lamy Safari & a Special Announcement

Happy Friday Everyone,

Lady Dandelion has a special birthday shout-out for the Lamy Safari this week. Here's to another 30 years of getting people hooked on fountain pens. 

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Mark your calendars for October 9th & 10th (Saturday and Sunday), we will be hosting our first-ever Pen Trunk Show in the Monmouth Mall, Eatontown, NJ! Thanks to the fine people of Wolf Fine Jewelers (link to their Facebook Page here), we have secured a great space at the mall to showcase some of the best in fine writing and accessories. Not only will the Goldspot team be there to help you, but we will also have a few of our favorite brand representatives in attendance from companies such as Aurora, OMAS, Montegrappa, Monteverde, Lamy, Filofax, Delta and Conklin.

If that isn't enough of a reason to come down to the show, we will also have tons of clearance pens from Waterman, Parker and Waterford, along with plenty of inks and refills for sale. Also, in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, every sale will contribute to Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

For our loyal Goldspot customers in the tri-state area, we will be mailing you a postcard with a special coupon to bring to the show. If you would like to be on our e-mail newsletter list to be notified with more updates about the show, please sign up for our newsletter.

Among the pens we will have on sale at the show, we will feature the Visconti Rembrandt and the Homo Sapiens Lava pens that Okami had recently reviewed on Whatever.

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Pen Spotlight

Pens in the News

• The LA Pen Show will going on this weekend until Sunday. Really would like to go out there to see the show. If only we can escape the snow-covered landscape of New Jersey!
• Meet the Pen Whisperer, Susan Wirth, at the LA Pen Show. DailyBreeze.com has an amusing article on how she is able to correctly diagnose the pen you need for your addiction.
• Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, Lawrence Wright lectures about his "old-school" writing technique, using a fountain pen, legal pads and note cards.
• Pelikan, Germany is proud to announce that the Ductus collection had won 1st place for Stylus magazine's 2009 Icon Award in the $101-$500 category.

Fun Pen Articles

• Although I don't think it actually writes with coffee ink, this Coffee Ink Pen is a very interesting find and I'm sure pen-loving baristas will enjoy it.
• Tiger Pens Blog has an inspiring post about how to start writing a journal.

Philadelphia Pen Show This Weekend

Hello Pen Lovers, Just wanted to remind everyone in the North East that the Philadelphia Pen Show is this weekend. Actually, it started today and will carry on until Sunday, January 24th. The show starts from 11am to 4pm on Friday, 10am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Exhibitors include both manufacturers and retailers from all around the Atlantic coast. As a buyer or collector of pens, this will be a great opportunity for you to come down and find fantastic deals on closeout merchandise. Retailers will be looking to off-load their excess inventory at prices that will be worth the trip. For those who love to see the latest and greatest products, several distributors who represent brands like Aurora, OMAS, Visconti and Laban, will be on-hand to show-off their newest collections. So, if you have don't have any set plans for the weekend and live within driving distance of Philadelphia, head on to the Sheraton Philadelphia Center City Hotel and spend a few hours oogling the plethora of pens and inks that make your heart sing.