Promotional Pens, Engraved Pens- A Time and Place for Each

Most do not give much consideration to pens at all, especially when using them.  If tasked with the responsibility of ordering them, however, the story is somewhat different.  Choices abound from promotional pens to engraved pens, and each one serves a different purpose.  While promotional pens serve to advertise a business or event, engraved pens are used more as a gift or reward.   Promotional pens are usually cheaper as they are ordered in bulk for mass distribution while engraved pens are usually higher quality pens purchased one at a time.  More often than not the latter are made of metal which is better suited for engraving.  

Engraved pens may have names, important dates, or both on them.  There is usually not room for much else as the smaller the engraving is the harder it is to read.  This along with cost is what makes them poorly suited as promotional pens.  They are better suited to personalized pens.  For example, engraved pens make an excellent gift for a birthday, graduation, or other special event.  The cheaper plastic pens often used for promotional pens do not make very good gifts.  The type of pens used for promotional pens can be personalized in other ways, but engraved pens make a much more elegant, sophisticated gift. 

The type of pens used for promotional pens are better suited for instances when mass distribution will be necessary.  They work great as party favors and souvenirs as well as promotional pens.  Engraved pens, though nicer, are not well suited to these types of events because they are more expensive.  A dozen promotional pens can be purchased for less than the cost of one or two engraved pens.  It would be almost impossible to purchase enough engraved pens for all of the guests at a party, but the plastic promotional style pens work well.

There is a time and place for each type of pen.  Heavy, nice engraved pens make great gifts.  They work well as prizes, rewards, and all kinds of gifts.  For circumstances where a lot of pens will be needed, the cheaper plastic pens often used to produce promotional pens are much better suited.  These can have logos, contact information, names and dates included on them for much less than engraved pens.  While engraved pens are very elegant, many find them boring.  Promotional pens can be much more fun and exciting as they can incorporate more color and design.  Promotional pens are what would be used in everyday life, while those that are engraved would be used for special occasions.