It still surprises me that people otherwise deep into the online pen community are only now just finding out about Pelikan Hubs! Started in 2014 as a promotional event, German penmaker Pelikan has been sponsoring these annual gatherings around the worlds, and the number of cities hosting a “Hub” has rapidly expanded. They’ve turned into beloved community events, and most are now larger pen-related gatherings that go well-beyond Pelikan enthusiasts.
I was glad to see the bottles of Edelstein ink return this year!
There’s been a lot of discussion about where the Pelikan Hubs will go from here. This year Pelikan announced their acquisition by the Hamlin Group, a French conglomerate, but right now it doesn’t appear that anything has changed. Pelikan resumed shipping a complimentary bottle of the Edelstein Ink of the Year (2023: Rose Quartz) to all registered Hub attendees, which was a welcome addition despite a new, more involved two-stage Hub registration process that left many frustrated. I think the biggest challenge going forward in today’s world of inflation and general rising costs will be how to address the expense of the Hub itself. Hubmasters are volunteers, and Pelikan does not contribute financial support for the events. While our group is fortunate enough to have at least one restaurant with a low-enough private-room minimum spend to host the Hub, I’m not sure how long that will continue, and some Hubmasters in larger cities are either having to lay out deposits, solicit donations, or charge admission (the latter of which has sparked significant controversy over whether the event should remain “free”). If the Hubs keep growing, the solution, for better or for worse, will likely require up-front sponsorship by either retailers or pen clubs - or some sort of “crowdfunded solution” - as I suspect Pelikan will not be able to financially support Hubs worldwide.
Nic from PensbyPasquale had a bunch of new creations to show off at the Hub!
The Nashville, Tennessee area hub has consistently had 15-30 people attend over the years, driven mainly by the membership of our local pen club, the Middle Tennessee Fountain Pen Club. (Sign up here!) Thanks to the generosity of several club members, we had giveaway prizes for just about everyone. And while next year it may be time to pass the torch to another Hubmaster and help out more behind the scenes (i.e., I’m TIRED), I’ve enjoyed all the people I’ve met at these events and I’m always encouraged by the growing passion of this community!
The Gentleman Stationer is not affiliated with Pelikan and I hosted this Hub in my capacity as an enthusiast. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.