New Arrivals: Pocketable EDC Goods from Craighill

Craighill Co. is one of my favorite makers of boutique stationery goods and everyday carry accessories, featuring durable construction and a brass-steel-matte-black aesthetic that speaks to me. We’ve previously stocked the Kepler Pen (a versatile retractable click pen with a contoured grip and a D1 mechanism), as well as a range of practical desk and reading accessories that includes bookmarks and a hefty desk knife/letter opener.

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Yesterday we added two new additions from the Craighill lineup: the “Caro” Ballpoint - a small pen designed to fit on a keychain and deploy from a friction-fit cap - and the “Lark” folding knife - a compact 1.5” blade that can either serve as a very small pocketknife or a utility “penknife” that lives in your stationery pouch or on your desk. As with other Craighill products, both are available in brass, stainless steel, “Vapor Black” (DLC-coated stainless steel), or combinations of the three.

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The Lark, shown here, is roughly half the size of a Kaweco Sport when closed. (Lanyard with bead not included. I added that myself instead of putting the knife on a keychain.)

Many thanks to the readers who brought the Caro pen to my attention and asked me to consider stocking it. I’ve been searching for a keychain pen to replace one that I had carried years ago and either had to retire (or lost), and I never found a replacement. The body of the pen connects firmly to the keychain cap using a garter-spring, and so far I’ve had no issues with the pen coming loose in my pocket. As of this morning, we are also restocked on all colors of the Kepler Pen!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Craighill.

TGS Responds: How Do You Curate Your Shop?

Today’s post is the second installment in a series of answers to questions that I regularly get in my mailbag (both “snail” and virtual). I had so much fun with the first round of Q&A that I went ahead and did another addressing questions about how I choose to stock the shop and my overall retail philosophy. Here goes!

What is your shop philosophy, and in general, why have a shop at all?

What actually drew me into the world of “curated retail” was a frustration with emerging retail and marketing trends in the greater online pen community. As pens and other analogue tools have grown in popularity over the past decade, this higher profile was accompanied by an increase in analog-related internet content - some of it thoughtful and high-quality, but a lot of it simply FOMO and acquisition-driven noise that amounted to little more than paid advertising for inferior products and/or affiliate link farms. As someone who had been working mainly as a blogger/reviewer for several years, manufacturers and retailers were sending me products that I didn’t feel added much to the larger picture, and which weren’t nearly as good as products already on the market. I didn’t enjoy reviewing them as much as I enjoyed writing about things like the joy of finding a Workhorse Pen or experimenting with notebook systems. Morever, it felt as though the proliferation of review and social media content on “the next big thing” was starting to drown out more helpful content targeted to those primarily looking for a reliable “first” pen or a daily driver that they intended to use for everyday writing.

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Towards the latter half of 2019, I decided to let paid advertising expire on the blog and unlinked my affiliate accounts, with the goal of becoming 100% self-sustaining. I opened a Patreon account, placed an order for Book Darts and Write Notepads (thanks guys!) and took a table at the 2020 Baltimore Pen Show. While running a shop involves a LOT more daily work than relying on income generated by referrals, I prefer this method of operating for three reasons that are very important to me personally:

1. Independence. I no longer have to navigate the politics of offering a negative or lukewarm opinion on a product given to me by a paid monthly sponsor or advertiser. While there’s always going to be some degree of tension - I still review products made or provided by those I consider friends and colleagues - the lack of a paid relationship removes a layer of complications. I can choose to write my own content and/or review what I want, when I want, without having to worry about preserving a business relationship or ensuring that my site remains appealing to potential advertisers. If someone loans or gives me a pen that I want to review on a one-off basis, I simply disclose that fact. In a bit of internet heresy, I ignore site analytics as they have little value to me. Knowing whether people choose to support me by buying from the shop or pledging Patreon is enough.

2. Accountability. If I recommend a pen and you purchase it from a third-party advertiser or referral source, I have no control over the customer experience, whether at retail or in after-market customer service. On the other hand, if I’m selling directly, I can do whatever I can to ensure the customer experience is positive, and address any customer service or warranty issues that may arise myself.

3. Transparency. In my opinion, selling directly and not relying on third-parties is one of the most transparent ways to generate revenue. Any business has to navigate conflicts of interest, particularly when reviewing products or offering opinions, but under my current model you all know exactly how I get paid: through the shop or Patreon. If I write about a product or brand sold in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, I try to be as objective as possible, but to the extent there is a conflict of interest readers know exactly what that is. Third-party relationships with affiliate networks and advertisers get murky, and in my opinion many blogs and websites (not just in the pen world but all across the internet) fail to adequately disclose both the existence of these relationships and the extent/nature of the financial compensation being paid. I’m not throwing shade - the “rules” (where they exist at all) are murky and involve all sorts of judgment calls. Personally, it felt like the right choice to just remove the issue from my own business model as much as I possibly can.

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Has Your Philosophy/strategy Evolved or Changed over the years?

I first launched the T.G.S. Curated Shop in early 2020, with the goal of offering a small selection of handpicked goods that best reflected my philosophy of how I use stationery. In short, I chose practical, well-made goods within a moderate price range, targeted to those who use their stationery on a daily basis for work and study. Over time, in response to reader/customer feedback and what I perceive as the needs of the market, I’ve branched out a bit to include some special editions and products that are just “pure fun,” but at the end of the day I would say that the mix of products in the shop is weighted 80/20 to my original philosophy, and occasionally I find myself dialing it back to return to my original focus.

What’s The Plan for T.G.S. in 2024? Do You Plan to Open a Physical Shop?

Right now, my family and I are just trying to survive the holiday season, but if I had to set a goal for 2024, it would be to further grow the shop while refining the product selection, including more custom and exclusive items. Our collaboration with Hinze Pens was extremely successful, we sold out of our second run of the T.G.S. Penwell, and in October we were proud to become one of a handful of retailers in the U.S. to carry Roterfaden. If I had to point you to an area of the shop where we test product categories and experiment in areas where we are actively considering expansion, check out the “Reading and Desk Accessories” page, which also offers a lot of insight into my own personal interests and hobbies. We are also looking to expand our selection of woodcase pencils, in response to what we perceive as a gap in the market. And while we almost certainly will have a permanent physical location in 2024, it remains to be seen exactly what that will entail as so much depends on a local real estate market that is incredibly unfriendly to small business.

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My house is basically a museum of the analog life.

In terms of content, I don’t review as many “new releases” as I used to, and this is by design. Longtime readers may wonder why I often circle back to pens I’ve previously reviewed, such as the Lamy 2000, Pilot Custom 74, or Pilot Custom 823. The reason relates to what I alluded to above - there are new users entering this hobby every day, and the internet (and social media) often suppresses older content in favor of the new and shiny. Those searching for a “best first fountain pen” can miss out on an excellent recommendation because the reviews of said pen were published eight years ago. While it’s important to stay current on new trends, the priority of T.G.S. is to offer a well-rounded perspective on what’s out there as a whole, which includes regularly coming back to the basics.

I do get a lot of mail, and unfortunately there just aren’t enough hours in the day for prompt responses. Please know that I read everything! I try to get back to everyone eventually, but as the readership grows it may not be possible logistically to do personalized replies.

New Arrivals: What Makes the Kaweco Art Sport Special?

Last week saw the launch of Kaweco’s latest round of four new “Art Sport” fountain pens. What distinguishes these pens from the standard Kaweco Sport lineup? Let’s do a quick rundown.

Four Different Italian Resins: Hickory Brown, Terrazzo, Pebble Blue, and Mineral White

Kaweco Art Sport fountain pens are turned from Italian resin, as opposed to the machined metal or injection-molded plastic used in most of Kaweco’s standard lines. In addition to a somewhat more sophisticated look, the Art Sports have a lighter, smoother feel in the hand, and post slightly deeper/more securely. The facets on the cap are not as sharp as on the standard Sports, and you notice the step up in finish quality immediately. For this release, Kaweco chose four very nice patterns: Hickory Brown, Terrazzo (my personal favorite), Pebble Blue (which won my Instagram Poll), and Mineral White (which is semi-translucent and people seem to want to eyedropper).

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From left: Terrazzo, Mineral White, Hickory Brown, and Pebble Blue

Kaweco has also added a new design touch to the Art Sport: an integrated clip. Personally, I found the addition of the clip quite exciting, as it’s the same vintage-style clip design used on the discontinued “Sport Luxe,” which I have in my personal collection and remains a favorite Kaweco. Note that the clip is not intended to be removed - you can technically take it off it by unscrewing the finial, but it will leave a gap as the finial won’t screw down all the way.

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Kaweco Art Sport in Terrazzo (Center) compared against my Sport Luxe Ballpoint (left) and Standard Sport (right)

Get Your Art Sports Now in the TGS Curated Shop!

Originally, the Art Sport line marked the “high end” of Kaweco’s Sport lineup, though that has since changed with the introduction of a slightly lower price point for this series, as well as some higher-priced standard and special edition offerings that break the $100 mark. Currently, the Art Sports are priced at $125 (formerly $150), and we have all four colors remaining in stock though Hickory Brown and Terrazzo are running low. If you don’t see your desired nib size available, go ahead and purchase your color in one of the nibs shown as available, and let me know what nib you want - we have spare Kaweco nibs in nearly all sizes and the Art Sport takes a standard Kaweco nib unit. It’s easy to switch it out.

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I absolutely LOVE the clip.

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The cap of the Art Sport is slightly more rounded than the standard Sport, as are the facets. It also posts slightly deeper, resulting in a shorter pen. Because the Art Sport’s resin adds a bit of heft, I didn’t find that the balance changed much.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Kaweco. You can view the Art Sports and the rest of our Kaweco offerings here, and for holiday gift ideas, be sure to check out our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide!

T.G.S. Cyber Monday! Last Chance for the "GIVETHANKS23" Promotion!

Happy Cyber Monday everyone! While I enjoy the hype and excitement (as much as anyone can), I’ll certainly be ready to get back to the “normal level of craziness” of the holiday season. Just a reminder that the “GIVETHANKS23” promotion will expire today at 11:59pm US Central Time. The other promotions will run through Friday, December 1!

• Take 10% off most brands using the coupon code “GIVETHANKS23” at Checkout. Brands including TWSBI, Roterfaden, and Allex are excluded.

• Automatic 15% off at checkout for brands including Nahvalur, WMS & Co., and Mazzuoli. No coupon code necessary. (Through Friday, 12/1)

• Starting today, Traveler’s Notebook 2024 Standard and Passport Diary Refills have been marked down, and this price reduction can be combined with the “GIVETHANKS23” coupon code. (Traveler’s Company 2024 Diary Markdowns will run through the end of the year.)

I’m also in the process of getting ready for Inkvent 2023! For those who haven’t yet picked up a Diamine Inkvent Calendar, there are only a couple remaining. It’s a great way to use your Cyber Week Discount!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Thanksgiving Weekend Drops and "Black Friday" Sales!

For our Thanksgiving Weekend Sale/Promotion, we have a couple of things going on. First, a few brands are automatically marked down 15%, including Nahvalur, WMS & Co., Mazzuoli, and more! The discount will appear automatically in your cart at checkout, and cannot be combined with other discounts and coupon codes, with the exception of free shipping on orders over $75.

In addition to these markdowns, you can take 10% off most other brands (with the exception of TWSBI, Roterfaden, Allex, and one or two others) using the coupon code GIVETHANKS23 at checkout. Since it’s sure to be a busy weekend, please review our shipping policies, including the 1-3 business day timeframe to ship orders, and remember to show grace to all of the retailers out there this weekend, as we all have little to no control over things like delivery delays, etc.! All remaining gently used items have been marked down an additional 10%.

Happy shopping!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

1. Caran d’Ache Keith Haring Limited Editions. We have ballpoints, Colored Pencil Sets, and more from Caran d’Ache in collaboration with the estate of pop artist Keith Haring.

2. Lamy Studio Fountain Pens. We recently introduced Lamy Studio fountain pens with the 14k nibs, currently available in both Piano Black and Palladium finishes. We also have the Lamy Studio All-Black fountain pen, as well as a few ballpoint and rollerball versions.

3. Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pens. The holiday sales events are a great time to pick up a core workhorse for your fountain pen collection, including the vacuum-filling Pilot Custom 823. The Pilot “Custom” series features some of the best nibs on the market. You can read my review of this pen here.

4. Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens. In my opinion, the Pilot Custom 74 is one of the most underappreciated “unsung heroes” of the fountain pen world. Between the Custom 74 and the 14k Lamy Studio, it’s hard to find a better sub-$200 fountain pen. You can read my review of this pen here.

5. Caran d’Ache Colormat-X Pens. This past year, Caran d’Ache released their classic 849 ballpoint pen in a new range of bright matte-textured color options. Personally, I think Caran d’Ache’s matte finishes are among their best, as they provide a soft surface for comfortable longer writing sessions.

6. Caran 'd’Ache Paul Smith Limited Edition 849 Pens. This year’s Paul Smith limited editions (the fourth series) feature six different combinations of Paul Smith’s signature colors!

7. Craighill Kepler Pen. Craighill’s Kepler Pen sports a contoured grip section and a unique D1 click mechanism, that allows you to use pretty much any kind of refill available in this format. The pen has some heft to it but remains well-balanced.

8. Lochby Cases and Notebook Covers. The holiday shopping season is a great time to stock up on notebook covers and other organizing supplies, as we prepare to turn the year over in a month or so. Lochby’s range of durable waxed-canvas goods includes the Field Journal A5 Notebook cover, as well as pen/pencil cases such as the Quattro and Venture Pouch, among others. (All Lochby notebooks feature 68gsm Tomoe River Paper.)

9. Lamy Pico Pocket Ballpoint. The Lamy Pico is another Lamy modern classic, in my opinion up there with the Lamy 2000, Safari, and Studio. While small in the pocket or pen case, it extends into a full-sized writing instrument when deployed.

10. Kaweco Sport Fountain Pens and Sketch-Up Pencils. We’ve recently expanded our range of Kaweco fountain pens significantly to include the Kaweco Collection colors! There are some excellent muted greens and blues in there, among my favorite that Kaweco has released.