Certain logos and icons stand for more than a company, they stand for American manufacturing ingenuity, holding a global cachet that represents U.S. culture: The McDonald's arches. The Nike swoosh. The Coca-Cola signature. The Sheaffer White Dot. Globally, these icons represent no less than the American ideas of freedom, creativity, and luxury.
When India's William Penn announced in 2022 that it was the newest owner of the Sheaffer Pen Co., there was no handwringing, there were no worries about an "American" brand being owned by a "foreign" company. These days, brands have their home corporate location, but that is nothing more than a GPS dot on a map. The true home of a brand these days is more conceptual than literal as the web of manufacturing becomes more complex.
William Penn CEO Nikhil Ranjan loves Sheaffer, which is why he became Sheaffer's owner and manufacturer rather than simply a stocker of Sheaffer products in his chain of William Penn retail shops through India. Arguably more than any owner in the last decades of Sheaffer's existence, Ranjan is dedicated to reviving not just Sheaffer's dominance as a global brand that stands for U.S. manufacturing excellence, but bringing a level of writing quality, beauty, and supply-chain reliability that harken to the heyday of the White Dot during the middle of the last century.
Ranjan says, "The goal in the first year was to steady the supply chain and reestablish relationships with as many distribution partners as possible. We are pleased to share that as of today, Sheaffer is available in over 60 countries, with many more in the pipeline. More importantly, we now have a steady supply of product. Our catalog is the largest it has been in the last 10 years, with the lcon, Sagaris, Reminder, and Calligraphy mini kits being relaunched late in 2024 after many years of hiatus."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Remembering Ward Dunham (October 11, 1941 - August 24, 2024)
On August 24, 2024, calligrapher Ward Dunham passed away.
The Black Pen Society and the D.C. Pen Show: Poobah in a Flower Pot
Do you like black pens? If so, you are probably already familiar with the fun, frivolity, and fellowship associated with the Black Pen Society (BPS).
Stationery Fest: This Is Not a Pen Show
Daisy and Neil Ni's twist on the traditional pen show is about community, not commerce.
"It Has Style:" A History of the Aurora Hastil (1969-1970)
The Italian pen company's experiment in modernism led to a revolution in late 20th century pen design. A two-part series.
GW Pens Scores a Critical Hit
With new collections inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Fender guitars, artisan John Greco is tapping into cultural trends.
Roterfaden's "Pocket Companion' "
The Taschenbegleiter hand-made planner system from German artisan cooperative Roterfaden features a modular organizational system that grows with the user's ambitions.
S.T. Dupont Takes the Iron Throne
The French atelier continues its forays into popular culture with a new, officially licensed Game of Thrones collection.
More Mail, More Dip-Less
The six-part series on dip-less (or one-dip) fountain pens garnered some major attention through its run from October 2023 through August 2024 (Vol. 36 No. 6 Vol. 37 No. 5).
David Oscarson: A Reflection
The artisan pen maker celebrates 25 years of luxury writing instruments with a new collection that harkens to his Art Nouveau roots.
The Parkette Hopalong Cassidy Ballpoint Pen
The Jotter was advertised as Parker's first ballpoint pen, but a novelty item that played on the Hopalong Cassidy culture craze predated it.
