Page 21 - BOSS Today Issue 44

SPECIAL FEATURE BOSS Today #44

Pentel (Stationery)

Wendy Vickery, UK Marketing Manager

Q: How has the UK writing and 12 colours – in the EnerGel coloured inks for both teachers
instruments market changed in family. and students. Red ink is no
the last two years? longer favoured for marking
A: We’re seeing an increasing Q: What innovations can we work, so the hot colours are
amount of ‘more of the same’, expect in the near future? now green, violet and pink, with
but there is plenty of quality A: It’s likely that future many schools and/or teachers
differentiation between pioneer innovations will come in the developing their own colour-
products and others. Of course, materials that products and coding systems. There are also
end-users are looking for the packaging are made of, as some interesting investigations
best deal possible, but that consumers and manufacturers into the benefit of coloured inks
doesn’t necessarily mean focus increasingly on and colour papers in helping
they’ll automatically buy the sustainability. Products that dyslexic students navigate their
cheapest: when budgets are are easy to fill and packaging way through handwritten work.
tight, better quality products that is effective for brands and
that write in brighter colours, retailers (but seen as neither Q: What has your company’s
write for longer and are profligate nor unnecessary by approach been to the issue of
more comfortable to use are the consumer), will be the ones single use plastic packaging?
appreciated by those buying for to attract attention. A: Pentel is doing its best to reduce
themselves or for the office. single use plastic packaging
Q: Which of your products have wherever possible. All our loose
Q: Which innovations have been seen the greatest increase in pens are supplied to the trade in
most successful in the writing interest by end-users – and recycled cardboard packaging.
instruments sector in the last why? In Europe, we chose to launch
two years? A: Pentel’s EnerGel range continues our new Pointliner pigment ink
A: Two years ago, we captured the to grow, thanks to our constant pen in a cardboard, rather than
imagination of customers and development of new colours plastic, wallet. Where we do use
consumers when we launched and improvements in ink plastic wallets – which we don’t
Hybrid Dual Metallic pens, technology. We are also seeing consider to be single-use, but
which are unlike any other gel a rise in demand for refillable something an end-user retains
pens available, with their twin- products, which isn’t surprising, to keep their pen collection
colour ink technology. Their considering the growing together – they are made from
beautiful, iridescent ink writes momentum towards making recycled material or material
in a different colour on dark or sustainable choices. Demand that can be recycled. Pentel
light coloured paper and, when for coloured inks – whether considers its responsibility
you hold the paper to the light for differentiating classroom as a manufacturer seriously,
and turn it, you see different comments, writing cards and and that’s why so many of our
shades at different angles. personal messages or recording products, including our top-
Our smudge-reducing EnerGel revision notes using memorable selling EnerGel range of pens,
pens are our number one pen colour-coding systems – also are refillable. We recognise that
range. With original quick- continues to rise. this isn’t an issue that will be
drying ink, ideal for right and forgotten when the dust settles
left-handed writers, EnerGel Q: What have been the recent and the media moves on: this
reduces smudging on hands and developments for writing important topic, whether
paper for the most pleasurable instruments in the education we’re talking products or the
writing experience. We have a sector? packaging they come in, is high
range of styles and tip sizes – A: There is continued demand for up on Pentel’s agenda.

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