What makes a pen a guys or girls pen

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Displaced Canadian

Displaced Canadian

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What people like in a pen is so varied I was just wondering What makes a pen gender specific? Size doesn't seem to matter, I like thin pens my wife likes fat pens. Are there any hard and fast rules or is it just personal taste. Aside from pink for girls and blue for boys and green for both what other factors do you consider?
Thought this would make an interesting topic. I'm interested in what people think.
 
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This is definitely a girls pen....

:biggrin:
 

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I think the ONLY determining factor is the person looking to buy the pen. Recently, I turned a prairie rattlesnake cigar, while turning, I decided to leave the pen a little "beefy" just knowing that some big burly guy would be the one to take it home. NOPE, the first lady that came by stayed for about 10 minutes trying to decide whether or not to buy it, wrote with it twice and then walked. Not five minutes later, another couple walked up and I was showing him the big "beefy" cigar rattlesnake pen. He asked his wife to write with it and see what she thought. The pen went home with HER. You never know!
 
I turn some of my slimline pens with a slight hourglass shape to them i.e. the wood is flush with the bushings on both upper and lower but slightly fatter in the middle. One of my customers commented that she really liked the feminine shaped pens. After that I noticed that about 90% of those pens went to women.
 
Bruce,
That is part of the reason I'm asking, It seems that most of the pens that are sold are bought by women. I made some pinstripe blanks my wife says that they look nice. She also says they look very masculine. When she looks at kits she doesn't say girly or manly she says nice or ugly. I'm also wondering how much does the kit contribute to the "sex" of the pen.
 
I have found that women like stylish, well-made, elegant pens. Pens that not only write well, but also look and feel good doing so.

Most guys like ugly pens! Make a pen out of a horse turd, and a guy will buy it! (And will probably give it to his boss who likes to think while chewing on his pen!)

Scott.
 
The shape that most people cut a slimline to is what I would call a chick pen.
Most men dont like the taper at the center band.
It looks like the waist line of a lady.

Make one with a un-tapered center band of Deer Antler and men will like it.

Pink Ivory = chick pen
Camo dymondwood = mens pen.

Pen on left in photo = men's pen
Pen on right in photo = chick's pen
See the difference?
 

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Ya never know what folks will like. I was shocked one day when a little old lady bought a 50 cal. When asked if it was for son or hubby she said no it's for me.
 
I personally don't think that pens have a gender, but rather they appeal based on personal taste and how it feels to write with it. I have a collection of pens and they are varied in appearance, but all feel nice when writing. What pen I use depends on my mood or what I am going to be doing when carrying it.
I don't think that most objects have gender only what we are told that they should and then I tend to do the opposite just because. Just like wood turning, wood working, upholstery, etc are a man's activity. Who says?
 
Pen gender

My personal point of view is: Women in general have smaller hands so larger pens tend to fit men's hand better. Women in general tend to appreciate color more so slightly smaller more colorful pens I think of as being more for women. I have found that comfort style pens appeal to both men and women but the darker colors seem to be liked more by men and the magentas, purples and blues seem to be liked more by women...
I have found that women tend to like my slims with a straight top barrel and a rounded bottom barrel...the same colors with both barrels straight seem to be evenly chosen by men and women. Like clothes, I think women tend to use more colors then men.
 
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The difference in a boy's pen and a girl's pen in my shop is the buyer! I've sold divas to men (granted, both of the men that bought didn't appear to have an overload of testerone). And, I sold a custom "Harley Flame" Majesic to a 90 pound girl riding a Harley Fat Boy.

IMHO, if you start trying to make "boy" and "girl" pens, you will ruin you overall market approach.
 
It is definitely a MAN's pen if the credit card says "George" or "Thom" or.....

If the credit card says "Susan", it's a LADY's pen or a gift!!!

Simple!!
 
Skye said:
What makes it a guy or a girl pen? Roll it on it's back and look.
Click to expand...

There is one in every bunch. :rotfl:
I have just noticed that sometimes when I make a group of pens I see a lot of black Ti hardware and dark woods. Also I sold a Purse pen to a person who was very much a mans man. He bought it because it fit in his pocket.
I made myself a pen from a kingwood blank that looked dark brown with light brown and gold grain. When I turned it and brought it home my wife burst into laughter because when turned it looked pink with dark grain. She told me that I could carry it but I would have to turn in all of my man cards. :redface:
 
I make a lot of bullet pens, and to my surprise about 30-40% are bought by women. When I ask whether it is for themselves about half the time they say, no it's for me.

Quite often they buy 2, 1 for themselves and one for their male partner.

I find that women are much more discerning in choosing a pen for either themselves or as a present. They are very observant and often tell me exactly what they want, ie the top of that pen and I want a custom finial etc. They don't mind paying for what they want either.
 
I used to think it was based on size. But so far all of my full size pens like Emperors and what not have sold to ladies. So I have no clue anymore. I'm just happy when anyone buys something, lol.
 
There are several gender combinations to deal with:
1. Pens bought by men for their personal use. Wood, antler, rifle cartridges, carbon fiber, rare materials, etc. They often like larger pens but shirt pocket carriers also like slimer pens.
2. Pens bought by women for their personal use. Bright colors, and usually a little more bling, often smaller in size, but some women who actually use a pen when they are working are well aware that larger pens are easier on even small hands.
3. Pens bought by men to give to a woman. The more gaudy the better. Cheap and gaudy is even better.
4. Pens bought by a woman to give to a man. They never think about the extra weight of a larger pen in a shirt pocket, they go for larger pens. They don't buy wood for men as often as men buy wood for themselves. Women are generous gift givers to their men, show them the good stuff.
5. Pens bought by a woman to give to a woman. They pick the same styles they personally like but they think about the taste in apparel of the woman who will be receiving the pen, either more conservative or more flashy.
6. Pens bought by a man to give to a man. Same as they would pick for themselves, it seldom occurs to them that another man may have different taste than they have.

About 60-70% of purchases are gifts. If a man and woman come in together and the man picks up a pen and obviously wants it but puts it down, then they leave. . .put the pen in a gift box and wait, the woman will be back in an hour or less to get the pen for him.
 
I never really thought about that until you brought it up. But now I realize that the majority of our pens are bought by women, even the Cartriage and Civil War pens whick I see ar Guy pens. Hmmmm.
 
In the craft show circuit we rarely SAW men.

I had a couple guys at each show who would come on Saturday or Sunday--was good for a couple pens. But the VAST majority (90%+) were sold to women.
 
In the art show circuit we see both about equal, usually both husband and wife and sold 65% men. A completely different clientèle than when we did craft shows.
 
nava1uni said:
I personally don't think that pens have a gender, but rather they appeal based on personal taste and how it feels to write with it. I have a collection of pens and they are varied in appearance, but all feel nice when writing. What pen I use depends on my mood or what I am going to be doing when carrying it.
I don't think that most objects have gender only what we are told that they should and then I tend to do the opposite just because. Just like wood turning, wood working, upholstery, etc are a man's activity. Who says?
Click to expand...

I do agree with Cindy, basically the feel that when you write with it. Scientifically, it all depends on the anatomical built of the individual's hand. Next time when you are in a crowd look at different ways a person holds their spoon or eating utensils and that reveals the method where by they have acquired their skills to use their hands. You would be lucky to observe them when they are writing then you will notice different ways they all hold the writing instrument in their hands. some are very dexterous with their fingers as they can really demonstrate a very fine motor movement with their fingers and whereby some tend to have less dexterity.
When it comes to like pink and blue. it all depends on the person's mood at the time of purchase just like anything else. Just bright colors for ladies and dark for men is not a buying factor is more of a mood. Of, course like Cindy said, we are all conditioned to believe that bright colors represent ladies, which in fact it goes back to the psychology of the colors.
Usually, since men by nature are hunters they do tend to lean towards tougher or rougher things and objects. And, ladies because of their nurturing nature tend to favor brighter colors since that represent their affections for the nature.
Now, all being said. it's hard to determine which would be the right answer, as it were said by others above sometimes you just have to let the buyer try the pen and decide for him/her self. As for the gift, You will never know who is receiving it. Now you can play a little by questioning ,but sometimes you can kill a sale by asking too many qsns. too.
Good luck, and try to keep it simple, the artistic talent behind your pen should do the selling for you rather than trying to give it a gender.
 
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Craft shows

Not going as a seller, but sometimes dragged kicking and screaming to craft shows by my bride....I note that in our area about 70 - 80 percent of the attendees are women and half of the men just hang out at the food booths. On the other hand, my spouse and her ilk will spend hours brousing through every site, examining every embrodery handkerchief and fishline bracelet in the place finally yielding to temptation and buying some 30 cent item marked down to a quarter and actually selling at 3 for a half dollar. The upshot of all this is that I'm surprised that it's only 90% women buying at the craft shows.
 
OKLAHOMAN said:
In the art show circuit we see both about equal, usually both husband and wife and sold 65% men. A completely different clientèle than when we did craft shows.
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Roy,

I believe people go to an ART show, ready to make a major purchase. Or, at least, buy bigger things than the "craft show---gift show" crowd.

As a result, they come in couples to avoid confrontation when they get home.

Craft shows are women, many buying gifts.
 
You are correct my friend, and they come with larger credit lines on their credit cards:biggrin:.
OKLAHOMAN said:
In the art show circuit we see both about equal, usually both husband and wife and sold 65% men. A completely different clientèle than when we did craft shows.
Click to expand...

ed4copies said:
OKLAHOMAN said:
In the art show circuit we see both about equal, usually both husband and wife and sold 65% men. A completely different clientèle than when we did craft shows.
Click to expand...


Roy,

I believe people go to an ART show, ready to make a major purchase. Or, at least, buy bigger things than the "craft show---gift show" crowd.

As a result, they come in couples to avoid confrontation when they get home.

Craft shows are women, many buying gifts.
Click to expand...
 
Displaced Canadian said:
What people like in a pen is so varied I was just wondering What makes a pen gender specific? Size doesn't seem to matter, I like thin pens my wife likes fat pens. Are there any hard and fast rules or is it just personal taste. Aside from pink for girls and blue for boys and green for both what other factors do you consider?
Thought this would make an interesting topic. I'm interested in what people think.
Click to expand...


That's easy: with or without nuts!!

Wait ...., that's what make a brownie a boy or girl brownie.

NEVERMIND.
 
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