Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 30

Thread: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    55
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 27 Times in 15 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    As per the news here.

    This seems it might be quite... significant for those of us in the UK, maybe?

    It might not change anything and I have nothing but good things to say about Cult Pens. I don't have much to say about WHSmith - it's such an ubiquitous institution that it's a bit like having opinions on socks.

    It'll be interesting to see what happens with the tie-up. Any thoughts?

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to milkb0at For This Useful Post:

    shorthandtypist (February 9th, 2018)

  3. #2
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,406
    Thanks
    6,879
    Thanked 10,367 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    It will be interesting to see what happens next.
    Last edited by Chrissy; February 4th, 2018 at 05:04 AM.

  4. #3
    Senior Member migo984's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Global Nomad
    Posts
    2,621
    Thanks
    622
    Thanked 3,155 Times in 1,103 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    This is very sad news. W.H.Smith is nothing like the retailer it once was and now sells generic and dull stationery. I don’t think it even sells Basildon Bond writing paper any more.

    I have a sense of foreboding about the future of Cult Pens now :-(

  5. #4
    Junior Member GTG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Wales UK
    Posts
    24
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Oh dear, oh dear. W H smiths. Not good IMO

  6. #5
    Senior Member grainweevil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Cornwall, UK
    Posts
    1,572
    Thanks
    269
    Thanked 885 Times in 461 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Hmm. Active pioneering online pen specialists chain themselves to lumbering out-dated high street giant. What could possibly go wrong?

  7. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to grainweevil For This Useful Post:

    Amanda (February 5th, 2018), amk (February 5th, 2018), Chrissy (February 4th, 2018), Jerome Tarshis (February 5th, 2018)

  8. #6
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,406
    Thanks
    6,879
    Thanked 10,367 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Quote Originally Posted by grainweevil View Post
    Hmm. Active pioneering online pen specialists chain themselves to lumbering out-dated high street giant. What could possibly go wrong?
    Indeed.

  9. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    640
    Thanks
    237
    Thanked 312 Times in 163 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    It will be interesting to see what happens. I've always found cult pens to have middle of the road pricing but what they excel at is variety.

    Never really purchased much from WhSmith B&M stores. But found some of there online pricing to be very reasonable especially a few years ago.

  10. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Suffolk, UK
    Posts
    175
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 69 Times in 31 Posts
    Rep Power
    7

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    More than likely Cult Pens will just use the name and resources ....stay Cult Pens, which is obviously a better business model.

  11. #9
    Junior Member GTG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Wales UK
    Posts
    24
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    The only good thing I remember WH smiths doing was having very rare sale on Lamy 2000 for under £100.

    Very limited stock though and only medium I think.

  12. #10
    Senior Member Fermata's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    488
    Thanks
    187
    Thanked 598 Times in 298 Posts
    Rep Power
    8

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    A large plc, with declining retail sales, buys a small online company with an excellent reputation and i assume good profitability.

    WH Smith would need to be quite foolish to alter a successful business.

  13. #11
    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Dallas, as in the 80's TV Series
    Posts
    3,662
    Thanks
    3,364
    Thanked 6,703 Times in 1,972 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Quote Originally Posted by migo984 View Post
    This is very sad news. W.H.Smith is nothing like the retailer it once was and now sells generic and dull stationery. I don’t think it even sells Basildon Bond writing paper any more.

    I have a sense of foreboding about the future of Cult Pens now :-(
    Maybe W.H.Smith is trying to revive their former glory by leveraging Cult Pens, which has a good and deserved reputation from anything I've heard and read about them.
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

  14. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    San Francisco, California
    Posts
    217
    Thanks
    178
    Thanked 114 Times in 58 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Oh, I don't know. On the one hand, I applaud grainweevil's comment. On the other, I ask where is the imagination that made England great. CultPens boutique in every high street in Northumberland? CultPens designing and making its own brand of FPs, thus reviving the manufacturing sector, Arkwright and Brunel cheering from their graves? Where is the vision? It is easy enough to succumb to a very tired feeling.
    Last edited by Jerome Tarshis; February 4th, 2018 at 02:18 PM.

  15. #13
    Senior Member Fermata's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    488
    Thanks
    187
    Thanked 598 Times in 298 Posts
    Rep Power
    8

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by migo984 View Post
    This is very sad news. W.H.Smith is nothing like the retailer it once was and now sells generic and dull stationery. I don’t think it even sells Basildon Bond writing paper any more.

    I have a sense of foreboding about the future of Cult Pens now :-(
    Maybe W.H.Smith is trying to revive their former glory by leveraging Cult Pens, which has a good and deserved reputation from anything I've heard and read about them.

    Need to remember the scale of things here, WH Smith with a branch in every city in the country and most if not all of the towns, every airport and major railway station. Cultpens as far as I know just one location, an online seller with perhaps 20 employees.

    Some perspective is needed.
    Last edited by Fermata; February 4th, 2018 at 11:51 PM.

  16. #14
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    San Francisco, California
    Posts
    217
    Thanks
    178
    Thanked 114 Times in 58 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Not too much perspective. It is important not to snicker. Or cringe.

  17. #15
    Senior Member manoeuver's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Near Midwest, US
    Posts
    1,594
    Thanks
    1,227
    Thanked 1,081 Times in 555 Posts
    Rep Power
    15

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerome Tarshis View Post
    Not too much perspective. It is important not to snicker. Or cringe.
    hmmm, yes. watch.

  18. #16
    Senior Member Morgaine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanks
    635
    Thanked 386 Times in 254 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    WHS does still sell Basildon Bond; my little on does. It also has a limited range of Parker and Lamy, the ink cartridges are expensive - Quink, Lamy, Waterman too sold there. At one large store, I was able to buy Rhodia.

    One charity shop find was a leather case with WHS quality bond!

  19. The Following User Says Thank You to Morgaine For This Useful Post:

    Chrissy (February 5th, 2018)

  20. #17
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,406
    Thanks
    6,879
    Thanked 10,367 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Quote Originally Posted by Morgaine View Post
    WHS does still sell Basildon Bond; my little on does. It also has a limited range of Parker and Lamy, the ink cartridges are expensive - Quink, Lamy, Waterman too sold there. At one large store, I was able to buy Rhodia.

    One charity shop find was a leather case with WHS quality bond!
    WHSmith website lists Basildon Bond, so I can't see how they wouldn't still sell it.

    Your charity shop find was great!
    Last edited by Chrissy; February 5th, 2018 at 05:12 AM.

  21. #18
    Senior Member grainweevil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Cornwall, UK
    Posts
    1,572
    Thanks
    269
    Thanked 885 Times in 461 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Three Candlesticks too, look you.*

    *Sorry, random attack of Welshness there, for no known reason.

  22. The Following User Says Thank You to grainweevil For This Useful Post:

    Chrissy (February 5th, 2018)

  23. #19
    Senior Member migo984's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Global Nomad
    Posts
    2,621
    Thanks
    622
    Thanked 3,155 Times in 1,103 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Quote Originally Posted by Morgaine View Post
    WHS does still sell Basildon Bond; my little on does. It also has a limited range of Parker and Lamy, the ink cartridges are expensive - Quink, Lamy, Waterman too sold there. At one large store, I was able to buy Rhodia.

    One charity shop find was a leather case with WHS quality bond!
    My two local branches stopped selling Basildon Bond in store. I asked a while back as I was buying it to send to a pen pal in the US who uses it. The duty managers told me it was up to each individual store (to an extent) about what to stock. They referred me to their website but I don’t want to buy online.

  24. #20
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Chartres, France
    Posts
    1,137
    Thanks
    2,610
    Thanked 825 Times in 446 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: WHSmith has bought Cult Pens

    Quote Originally Posted by GTG View Post
    The only good thing I remember WH smiths doing was having very rare sale on Lamy 2000 for under £100.

    Very limited stock though and only medium I think.
    Yes, I got my first Lamy 2000 in that sale - absolutely ridiculous price, I think about sixty quid!

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •