First Pen Show.... Impressions and Tips for First Timers...

[sniper777]

I had the pleasure of attending the Dallas Pen Show this past weekend. This was the first show I have ever attended. There were 60-70 vendors confirmed.

Pre-show- I was very glad to post here and have some faces to look forward to trying to meet. Among those, was Will with Redeem Pens. I spent about 5 minutes with him and he was very informative and passionate about pens. As he mentioned, the show was busy, and others were interested in his amazing pens.

Prep... Bringing Cash was very helpful. The few times I needed to use cash, it came in handy and vendors appreciated it.

Prep... A bag was helpful, although the Dallas Club gave bags out at the entrance. I would suggest a backpack, which made it easier to get through the crowded areas.

Prep... There was a suggestion to bring food. Food was readily available around the corner. I may amend this to say bring food in your cooler/car. I didn't need anything, but I would assume if you are spending the day, it would be a good alternative. The coffee shop had Starbucks, and there was not a line that I saw.

Map- This is one thing to look out for. I assumed most shops/vendors would easier to seek out. Most did not have signage and the tables ran together. The vendors were all very friendly to each other at most times.

Research- I saw vendors that I sought out. In order to do so, I had to make a few circles around the room to find a map, decipher the map (not as easy as you might think), and then walk around until you find them, or until it is timely.

Testing- It was awesome to test pens that I had only read about. Almost all pen types were there to try.

Other products- Inks for sure, but a number of leather and paper goods vendors were available.

Vendors- Research your vendors... I cannot stress this enough. Not all vendors are created equal! To me, they fell into 3 categories... Educators, Sales, and Hobbyists. The Educators were amazing. Really passionate about pens, can lead you to what YOU want, and be very honest about the flaws and realities of what you are looking at. These are the people you should seek out in my opinion. Will is a great example. The president from The Pen Market was incredible. Took lots of time to go over pens and really gave confidence that the products they have are as described. I have read many times to look for a reputable seller and to develop a relationship. I now understand.... The "Sellers" brought price up before I even asked about the pens. If they didn't have it, they had what you needed in the back and would cut you a deal on a pen they just acquired... All within 3 minutes! IMO, if a vendor mentions price before you ask or before you show interest, run. There may be some room to negotiate if you want, but good luck. The Hobbyists were by far the most fun. One gentleman (Al?) was demo-ing Conid pens, and the passion was amazing. (Conid ordered BTW!) The want to share knowledge was by far one of the better experiences at the show.

Vendors- When you go to a table, you may not e talking to the person in charge. On more than one occasion, a few people mentioned they did not know pricing and some where there to just focus on accounting.

Vendors- I was amazed that a number of vendors did not know the basics about the products they brought.

I can say with certainty at this show, 100% of the tables were approachable. Everyone was willing to engage, and most were willing to take time to talk. It took a few tables, but once I made the decision to tell vendors "First Pen Show", it made life very easy and they even gave me tips.

The Dallas Pen show and people, overall, were great. It seems like the right size for a new collector to get started. I'll be back, and more prepared next year. Good luck and thanks to everyone at the show.