UK Pen Shows is hosting the Northern Pen Show at the Hilton Doubletree, Chester on 28 April.
UK Pen Shows are table top consumer shows where the general public can see, feel and try pens, ink and stationery. Vendors range from the small artisan pen makers, vintage pen sellers, stationery and accessories retailers to the UK leading pen retailers.
Co-owner of the UK Pen Shows, Michael Owen (who is also sales director of Pen Paper Gift) says: “If you sell stationery and writing instruments to the public, there really is nowhere else that you can get so many dedicated pen lovers in one room.”
The two flagship shows are the London Spring Pen Show in March and the London Autumn Pen Show in October. “The London shows are by far the larger shows with over 150 tables of vintage pens, new pens, ink, stationery and accessories. Prices range from £2.00 to £20,000,” says Michael.
Confronted by such an array of pen related items can be a little overwhelming, so the smaller regional shows in Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and Chester (on April 28) can be a lighter, more comfortable environment to try things and chat to vendors.
“The pen shows have been events on the calendar for many years,” says Michael. “The ownership and schedule was consolidated in 2020, and since Covid, the schedule has settled into a nice mix of busy London and Birmingham shows with specialist regional events. The ownership now sits with myself and Vince Coates from The Turners Workshop. Each event is now growing year on year with new younger visitors attracting a new type of vendor.”
For the visitors, there is nowhere in Europe that you will be able to see, feel, try and buy such a large selection of items from a larger selection of vendors. And for vendors it is a fantastic way of engaging with a large number of customers and prospective customers in one place.
Find out more at ukpenshows.co.uk.
