What do you find next to the battery that may or may not operate when you open a junk drawer at home? Promotional plastic pens with brand names, slogans, and sometimes strange logos on them. We complain about losing caps or running out of ink exactly when we need it, yet no one wants to give up these plastic beauties.
Events for business? There is always that one table full of pencils. You know which one. People are drawn to it like moths to a lamp on a porch. “Sure, I’ll take a pen.” But internally, you’re saying, “Yes!” One for the car, one for work, and one for the nightstand. It’s hardly a surprise why we humans chase free things, especially useful ones.
Let’s chat about the price. Even experienced marketers can get nervous when they have to order hundreds or thousands of metal pens. Plastic pens, on the other hand, are far cheaper and just as strong. Everyone who comes receives one. Two times sometimes. Even if half of them go lost on the first day, your brand is still out there, going places you never meant for it to go.
Don’t forget how powerful tactile memory is. Put your fingers around a squishy plastic barrel. It’s not merely a tool for writing. You may spin, chew, or lend it to a coworker who forgets things. In a busy office, “Whose pen is this?” can sometimes be a hint. “Oh, that’s from the last time someone went to that smoothie shop down the street!”
You’d think that every pen would look and feel the same, right? No. There are a lot of different things, like neon pandemonium, crazy clip forms, illuminating ink windows, and anti-bacterial chemicals. Some look like rockets, while others are so small that they almost disappear in your hand. Change things up every once in a while; people appreciate new things, even if it’s just for a minute.
Have you ever noticed that the color of ink may also start a passionate argument? Someone might shout, “Who needs green ink?” But there’s always that one person who loves to write grocery lists in colors other than blue or black. It’s not surprising that pens become small markers of personality when there are so many different kinds.
When it comes to the environment, you might wince at the phrase “plastic.” But don’t worry; more and more plastic pens are being made with recycled materials. Companies are slowly learning how to make pens that are easy on your pocketbook and the environment. Even the most cynical people might be swayed by those eco-initiatives.
The best part is that people remember where useful things come from. A pen that has been washed up can bring back memories of a business you forgot about months later. A good pen can sometimes survive longer than the memory of why you picked it up in the first place.
Don’t roll your eyes the next time someone gives you a plastic pen as a gift. Think of it as a little ambassador that goes from coffee table to conference room to glove compartment, telling the narrative of a brand one doodle at a time.
