75+ Small Makers Renaissance!

The culmination between an interplay of factors, I think we are in the midst of a new "Small Maker Renaissance"! Our channel is in process of working with Golem Pens to help create an easily accessible list of these makers and more!
3:02 75+ Small Makers!

[@santauxia]

I think you nailed it. Great explanation.

[@Tom_Samad]

As a trainee pen maker from Birmingham, England, i am extremely happy that i have discovered this channel.
I have no problem with pen reviewers reviewing pens made by legacy pen companies, but i also would like to see more shout outs to the smaller artisan pen makers out there who are thankfully increasing in numbers around the world.

[@ZenofThePen]

Glad to have you along for the ride! Definitely check out the new "correspendence" part of the channel for more from small makers and innovators in our pen- world! New episode released Monday!

[@NotesFromPastAmy]

That was a lot of small makers!

[@allegriach]

Thanks for this topic!
I live in Switzerland and work for a school. I don't see it as “pen” in general but rather as a question about the right to exist of fountain pens. Fountain pens with nibs are no longer distributed at school. They are nowadays rollerball pens. Why could rollerball pens never really gain a foothold in the lower (and upper) luxury segment? In the upper luxury segment it was/is the case that a very noble fountain pen also has a little brother called a ballpoint.
You're showing the Namisu Pocket Pen here. I would spontaneously say that's exactly what should boost successful sales: a high-quality fountain pen that also works as a ballpoint pen. You can rebuild it. Another recipe for success is (at least it should be) that it is NOT in the upper luxury segment. So you can carry it with you as an EDC in a bag or laptop side pocket.
If you would ask me, you can safely show more hybrids like this. In addition to the Namisu Nova Pocket, I also own the Namisu N2. A great writing instrument that caught my attention because it doesn't function in the same way as all the others. It is not just a noble tube made of noble material with noble decoration/color and a noble feather made of pure gold. It's more of a functional writing instrument that's really fun to use. Likewise the Namisu Neo. Admittedly it's a design that takes some getting used to, but I still love it as an EDC (as a ballpoint pen).

[@ZenofThePen]

Great points! I agree that all the pens here on this channel would be on the luxury side - nothing you could get off the shelf at a typical store. Ballpoints and the like have some more pragmatic advantages (ink dries fast/permanent, low cost). I don't expect EU/USA schools to adopt fountain pens, however, many parts of the world in Asia and India still use fountain pens throughout school ages, and as such are widely still used in their adult population as well. This is one reason we see large companies in India (Magna Carta) and Japan (Pilot, Platinum, etc.) and less so in Europe and America... unless as you note they are more a luxury item.
I think that the luxury segment is what allows small artisans and those with passion to still enter the market. There is NO way a small maker could under-price a Bic, or create a more pragmatic pen in that sense. However, when there is enough money from consumers to warrant a maker buying tools and spending hours upon hours making a pen - there exists this sweet spot where the money is enough of an incentive to motivate those small artisans to do what they do and still turn enough of a profit to continue.
I also agree with you there exists a balance between EDC use and Pen-Case Beauties. I carry my Matte-Black Vanishing point or Q3D TwisTi titanium bolt almost everyday, yet carry the Raden Vanishing Point or Q3D Zirconium Damascus pens rarely if ever because I'm afraid to put a scratch on them! I have enjoyed my Namisu as well. It is an extra sense of security now that I anodize, because I'm not afraid of scratching the Namisu, I can always reanodize it at home myself. Thank you again for taking the time to leave your thoughts and discuss!

[@YDSTE]

Has anyone called it a Penaissance?

[@ZenofThePen]

@@YDSTE I'm in.