This week marked my first ever trip to the San Francisco Pen Show, which the show organizers affectionately dub “The Fun Pen Show”! There’s a reason too - the San Francisco show is set up in much more vendor and user-friendly way than many other larger shows such as D.C. and L.A., in addition to having some great after-hours events. The aisles are spaced widely, allowing for better browsing and a less crowded experience, which is especially important these days.
Get to the Schon DSGN table early - that way you get a chance at things like the “Black Ultem” on the right. (I swapped sections with the standard Amber Ultem to get the two-tone look.)
As with most larger shows, Friday is the “trader pass” day, which means that until 1pm, the show is only open to weekend pass holders and not the general public. For vendors, this can be a mixed bag, as it typically involves less foot traffic in the morning, but for attendees who purchase the three-day pass it can provide an opportunity to interact with vendors before they’re swamped with potential customers, as well as the chance to pick up limited or small quantity items before they sell out. (Since many vendors fly to the San Francisco Pen Show, they have to bring less stock than they would carry to a “driving show,” so I’d highly recommend springing for the trader pass.) Foot traffic yesterday definitely seemed a bit slower, similar to what I witnessed in D.C., and I suspect it’s due to the fact that in a normal year, many of the weekend trader passes are comprised of people who travel in from out-of-town. Unsurprisingly, with fewer people flying, you see slower Fridays, yet Saturdays and Sundays remain busy as locals and those with driving distance visit the show.
The Vanness-Vinta exclusive collaboration. Limited quantities available, and only at the show until next week, when it will go on sale on the Vanness website.
Once again, I’m behind the table with my friends from Vanness Pens, who brought with them from Little Rock a huge assortment of ink from Ferris Wheel Press, Pennonia, Robert Oster, Pilot Iroshizuku, and Vinta, including the Vanness exclusive, “Sodalite”! We also have a selection of pens from Scribo, Pilot, TWSBI, and more, in addition to new products from Galen Leather. While Kanilea Pen Co. and Ryan Krusac Studios are not attending this year, many others are, including Franklin-Christoph, Dromgoole’s, Luxury Brands, Schon DSGN, and more.
The inks available at the Kiwi Inks table. Kiwi is a brand I haven’t used before, and I picked up bottles of Nebula Space Kitty and Hyacinth Macaw.
I made several purchases on Friday, mainly of lower-stock items that I wanted to grab before they sold out. In addition to two Ultem Pens from Schon DSGN, I grabbed two handmade pens fitted with vintage Cartier and Eversharp nibs from Peyton Street Pens, as well as two bottles of Kiwi Inks. Since I was worried they would sell out by the end of the show, I also picked up this magnetic closure, hardshell leather case from Galen Leather. We still have a few remaining at the Vanness table, but these won’t last through the end of the weekend, so if you want one come by early.
Stay tuned for more updates from Saturday and Sunday at the San Francisco Show! Also, don’t forget that through tomorrow night, you can get 10% off any purchases in the T.G.S. Curated Shop by using the coupon code “SFPENSHOW” at checkout. All orders placed during a pen show weekend ship the following week, once I’m back in town.
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