Best place to sell pens

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yorkie

yorkie

Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2009
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1,116
Location
Charlotte, North Carolina
:beat-up:
Not been making pens long but have a passion for unusual and rare woods. I've tried selling on Ebay without success and I'm now at the point where I'm offering Majestic rollerballs made from Amboyna burl with sapwood for $50 on Ebay and they're definitely worth more than that.

Take a look at these pics of recent pens, I'm purely an enthusiastic amateur, and give me your advice on how I'm doing after 6 months and the best place to get what these pens are worth.

Thanks a lot, guys. I appreciate it.
 

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Stephen appears you have made some really nice pens. I've not heard of too many people selling pens on Ebay, doesn't seem to be a good market. What few I have sold has been word of mouth to this point. I always carry one and if someone needs to borrow a pen there is your opening. Obviously, as you read some of the posts, shows of all types seem to be the main vienue, along with websites. Hopefully this will at least give you a boost in the right direction. Good luck and keep us posted on your sales!!
 
Great bunch of pens, Stephen! The finish looks good, photos good.

I've followed a few Pen Shows and other local arts & crafts shows where I can sell my work as a vendor.

I've sold quite a few "barely used" - as Rollerbob says, right out of my pocket. Word of mouth buyers and repeat customers add up over the years.
 
I have several of my pens listed on a site called Etsy (www.etsy.com) it's a site that allows people to sell hand crafted items. I've been on their site about 5 months now and have sold one pen and had lots of hits (lookers). I'm sure the economy has a lot to do with decreased sales right now. I also plan on setting up a table at our local farmers market a couple of saturdays this summer. Ebay would not be an option as far as I'm concerned. I like the one on one contact with people. Don't give up!
 
direct selling for me appears to be the best route..I have found with wood items (pens, bowls etc) that people want to touch them..they want to feel how smooth..they want to feast their eyes..it's tactile..that's what makes them sell IMHO..good luck
 
Direct sale seems to be my best so far. Saw my Dr. last week and when he walked in he asked me if I had any new pens. Showed him one segmented and then showed the Flag pen. All he said was how much and I want one. The pens will sell themselves to the right croud. Ironically, I sell more high end pens like that than mid range pens.
 
I sell a lot of pens by word-of-mouth from family member using pens I made. My mother and my wife have three or four each in their purse that they show everytime someone comments about the pen they are using. :good:

I have also sold a lot of pens in the teller line at the bank (I quit using the ATM and drive thru, for this reason). I find it amusing, because usually I am making a deposit from selling pens and end up selling the pen I am using to complete the deposit slip. :smile-big:
 
How about Bonanzle or ecrater I have sold a few there but more as mentioned by word of mouth or carrying my higher end pens to show some of the people I work with.
 
Being a new member and having only sold 2 pens, which were rifle cartridge pens. Mine were sold at my wife's work. I always carry one around and show it off every chance i get.
 
Facebook or Myspace

I don't activly sell my pens. But I do get alot of requests through my facebook. I simply use it to show my friends and family what I am working on and they often ask for prices.

I highly reccomend it. Get an account and start building a contact base. Just as an example I have over 100 people who see my work daily as I create it.

It's also great way to practice posting photography and I get great input and encouragement.... and on occasion sales


Manny
 
I've sold exactly one unsolicited pen on Etsy. I don't know why I bother. But if I happen to make a pen without an immediate buyer, I gotta do something with it.

On the other hand, I've sold well over 100 from word of mouth and flashing a pocket pen.
 
I second the local art or crafts fair. My daughter is already planning for next year's local fairs that will have a Luau type of feel to them. She has been dancing for years and has been making the polynesian costumes. She wants to sell her stuff, I will pay half the cost to enter and she is going to do all the work. I figure make pens, bowls, bottle stoppers and such with Hawaiian woods. Get the word out if you know what I mean. They get to touch, feel and write if they want to. Hand out a bunch of business cards and ??? Good luck on your adventure....

By the way the pens are awesome, you just need some exposure. If you know or are around the BMW, Mercedes & Jag crowd let them use a nice rollerball to write their checks and they will be going out the door fast as you can make them.
 
Don't sell your self short, everybody I repeat everybody won't buy a handcrafted pen. Be patient , hold a good fare market price. And they will come ,they will come!!!!!!!!!
I have been retail and wholsale sales all my life. You can't sell everybody and still make $.
Most of my sells are repeat sales. So go out and find the few that like what your doing and you will most likely have a repeat customer.And thats what you strive to do.
PS I may need to buy some of your rollerballs as they are cheap enough to buy and resale??
 
Real nice pens.And where abouts in NC do you live? I don't needthat kind of competition. All of the ones I've sold was like has been said.ALWAYS carry one once they see it and find out YOU made it they will buy.I've got 3 on order right now just got to get the kits.The hardest part for me is getting the wife to understand that I need to buy stuff to make stuff.:eek:
 
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