Refill Display??

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RDH79

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Was just wondering how many people have a ink refill display on there tables. In the past I really didnt have room, but i am not doing bottle stoppers (people around here drink there wine from a box)and a couple other slow moving things. So I am looking for something to replace them with. I always carry a few extras just incase one doesnt work, but have never really sold any extras. probably because they were not displayed.
 
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Nope, never did. People might think I was a stationery store and most stuff is suppose to be hand crafted.
 
I've found people are concerned about getting refills and relieved when I have some available. They are so used to tossing pens when they run out of ink (Our disposable society) and don't want to have to do it with one I have made (thankfully :biggrin:)
I say it's worth having them!
 
I'd sure give it a try. When I did shows, I would get requests, and I carried a few of each type. Never had room for a display (frankly never THOUGHT about it). Whadaygatalose??
 
Lenny said:
I've found people are concerned about getting refills and relieved when I have some available. They are so used to tossing pens when they run out of ink (Our disposable society) and don't want to have to do it with one I have made (thankfully :biggrin:)
I say it's worth having them!
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I think it is wise to have them in storage but not for sale.
 
Why not, john? I mean heck, you are a pen maker or turner or whatever we are called (not getting into this debate again) I would think if you were to sell fine writing instruments, then you should sell the stuff that makes them write.
 
John may be gifted with greater wisdom.

I carried them, and GAVE them away to people who had purchased my pens. FREQUENTLY, this sold another pen.

Occasionally, someone came up who had NOT bought a pen. That's when I explained all the products we SELL have to be hand made, but I can GIVE you a couple extras if you buy pen(s) that use that refill.

Having a display would not, necessarily mean you were SELLING them, could allow your customers to pick the "writing experience" they prefer and adjust the purchase price of the pen accordingly.

More than one way to stay within the rules!!
 
I have no display, but I ask each customer " do you want a medium or fine blue or would a black be better as part of my closing and remember for refills just go to my site".
 
jimm1 said:
I don't display refills. I believe it may give a customer an wrong idea that the current cartridge in the pen may not last long enough.

Did I say that right?
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This was my thought process.
If you display refills with brand new pens, are people more likely to think that the ink cartridges won't last long?

I keep them in a tupperware container behind the scenes. Just in case someone asks.
Otherwise, when I sell a pen, I include a set of instructions letting people know how to replace and where to get them!
 
Guess I should really read the posts instead of skimming them over quickly, Yes I agree with not having a display, but rather offer refills as an add on or a "yippee". I would display bottled ink for fountain pens though, again if it was a type that no one around the area sold.
 
witz1976 said:
Why not, john? I mean heck, you are a pen maker or turner or whatever we are called (not getting into this debate again) I would think if you were to sell fine writing instruments, then you should sell the stuff that makes them write.
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Witz1976, maybe I should rethink this. I am firm on not selling them and turning my stand into a Office Depot. I think there is merit in having replacement refills. If a customer prefers a fine point, then it is there to upgrade the pen and make the sale. I wonder, no one has ever come up to me and asked if I had supplies for sale.
 
I come from a retail background...so I see it if we sell a product we should be service the product after the sale. If service means providing a nib upgrade, or a simple slimline why not offer it? PS feel free to call me Dan:cool:
 
On the other hand----when they come to my booth-----I am a pen maker and I try to have anything thier wallet desires. The only ink I display is for fountain pens but at the end of the year if you figured up how many $1.25 cross refills I sell----it's well worth it. You might notice that I sell the Cross type refills for 50 cents and I am making money at that so at $1.25 the profit % really jumps. I watch the small things, it all adds up.
 
witz1976 said:
I come from a retail background...so I see it if we sell a product we should be service the product after the sale. If service means providing a nib upgrade, or a simple slimline why not offer it? PS feel free to call me Dan:cool:
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Well Dan I am going to try it out. I am going to go buy a bunch of refills for servicing my clients, which I already do, and will sell them when I can. Do you set yours out on display????
John
 
Gary Max said:
On the other hand----when they come to my booth-----I am a pen maker and I try to have anything thier wallet desires. The only ink I display is for fountain pens but at the end of the year if you figured up how many $1.25 cross refills I sell----it's well worth it. You might notice that I sell the Cross type refills for 50 cents and I am making money at that so at $1.25 the profit % really jumps. I watch the small things, it all adds up.
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Gary, where are you getting the refills for less than .50c?
 
I haven't actually displayed my refills BUT I do make sure that people who but my pens know that they are readily available and I make sure to give them information about which type refill their pen takes. I'm surprised how many aren't even sure, until they ask, that the pens are able to take a refill.
 
At the moment, I do not have a display...hence why I was asking for some ideas on lights. So at the moment all of my sales have been word of mouth, BUT when I sell a pen I include a card that tells the customer what they bought, the materials used, how to clean and most importantly where to get refills.

Once I get my display up and going, I will be displaying fountain pen ink, and I will simply add signage reminding the customer that refills are available. If they buy a pen I will either simply add one, or try to add onto the sale.
 
witz1976 said:
At the moment, I do not have a display...hence why I was asking for some ideas on lights. So at the moment all of my sales have been word of mouth, BUT when I sell a pen I include a card that tells the customer what they bought, the materials used, how to clean and most importantly where to get refills.

Once I get my display up and going, I will be displaying fountain pen ink, and I will simply add signage reminding the customer that refills are available. If they buy a pen I will either simply add one, or try to add onto the sale.
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I like your system. It makes sense to me. Thank you for sharing.
John
 
And if you have a nice Private Reserve refill in one of your pens that you can let the customer try out in a side by side "Test" it can really help sell the pen!
 
Thanks everyone for there views on this. I think I will put a few out my next show. And Gary the free refill sounds like a good idea. I do get alot of "Are these refillable?" I always show them how easy it is to change the ink. Why give Staples and Office Max any business when I could be selling the refills. Thanks Rich H.
 
I use refills as an upsell ("how many refills would you like today"), as a negotiating tool ("I can't cut the price of the pen, but I can give you 3 refills") and as a marketing tool. The refills are placed in an envelope with my advertising and contact information and refill reorder form for almost every refill made.

Ever been to a gun store that didn't sell "premium" ammo? Ever been to a hardware store that didn't sell nails? These places don't stay in business by selling guns or nail guns at a 10% margin, they stay in business by selling ammo and nails at 50 -60% margin.
 
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All refills are NOT created equal.

The ones that come with the kits CAN be purchased for pennies in China.

The refills we show on Exotics are UPGRADES, they write better and the have fine and medium tips available. (AND they cost ME considerably more than fifty cents, in 500 quantities)

Buy what you like, but as I have said many times, Universal statements are universally inaccurate!
 
I usually will give a free refill when a customer buys a pen. I also offer free refills for life when you buy a pen of $150 or more, the catch is you have to come to the shop to get the refill installed for you and at that point most of my customers will buy another pen as long as they are already here. This may be a poor business practice to give away a refill but it seems to help sales.
 
ed4copies said:
All refills are NOT created equal.

The ones that come with the kits CAN be purchased for pennies in China.

The refills we show on Exotics are UPGRADES, they write better and the have fine and medium tips available. (AND they cost ME considerably more than fifty cents, in 500 quantities)

Buy what you like, but as I have said many times, Universal statements are universally inaccurate!
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I checked the Exotic site and see your refills for 1.49 each, I think. This is still cheaper than what I am use to and will order some when one of my orders pays up. Don't want no Chinese .50c refills. Ick, Ptewwyyyy.
 
Actually, John, the "cross style" are $1.35 or 1.15 in quantity of 20. Available in black or blue, fine or medium. You may assort them for quantity discount. (At least 90% of our sales of these is in 20+ quantity) I would provide a link, but I'm not sure if it's "legal" in casual conversation.

kits and accessories\refills will get you there.
 
ed4copies said:
Actually, John, the "cross style" are $1.35 or 1.15 in quantity of 20. Available in black or blue, fine or medium. You may assort them for quantity discount. (At least 90% of our sales of these is in 20+ quantity) I would provide a link, but I'm not sure if it's "legal" in casual conversation.

kits and accessories\refills will get you there.
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I found you. Thank you for your help.
 
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