It seems simple, choosing a promotional pen. And it can be. But you have LOTS of options.
You should begin your selection with one of three different priorities:
- quality
- budget
- consistency
Quality
When you want a quality pen, you have two broad categories.
Gift Pens
These are typically metal, and they start around $3 each and go up to $515.06 each. Really! I can sell you 15 pens for $515.06 each. Here’s the link.
Back to reality. They start around $3 each and go to more than $100 for high-end pens and desk sets. These are nice gifts for top clients and VIPs.
Mid Range Giveaway Pens
These are nice pens but still affordable for quantity giveaways like trade shows. Prices are between $.75 and $3 each.
Budget
When budget is a high priority, there are always budget pens on sale or close out. Some can be as low as $.12 each when you buy high quantities and can wait for overseas production. Otherwise, $.35 each for a quantity of 300 is a good planning point.
The disadvantage is you won’t necessarily find the same pen on sale the next time you buy pens.
Consistency
When you want the same pen all the time, you generally can’t buy based only on price. You can still get a budget pen, but it might not be on sale when you’re ready to restock.
Best Bets for Budget and Consistency
Here are some good options that are usually in stock and meet most budgets.
Dart Style Pen
This style is available from lots of suppliers, so it’s virtually always available for $.45-$.60 each.
Bic Clic Stic
This is a very popular option. They’re made to order by Bic in Clearwater, Florida, so they are always available with over 600 color combinations.
For a basic pen, they are a little pricey at $.78 each (minimum quantity of 300), but it’s Bic quality, and you can often find them on sale. (Recently, they have been on sale for $.57 each.)