Every business owner knows how effective promotional pens can be. Unlike flyers or sticky notes, people don’t throw away pens. In fact, if you choose pens as your promotional material, there’s a good chance people will be using them for years and years.
But before you decide to plaster your brand on thousands of promotional pens, you will first need to decide whether to opt for plastic or metal pens. Obviously, both come with certain advantages, but if it’s your first time buying promotional material, you’ll need some assistance with your decision.
Keep reading to get a better idea of which option will work best for you.
How Much Do Metal and Plastic Pens Cost?
Inevitably, money will play a big part when it comes to making your decision on whether to choose plastic or metal pens.
Typically, you can purchase a single branded plastic pen for approximately £0.32, whereas custom metal pens are around £0.88. But you will also need to keep in mind that you will need to purchase these pens in bulk. What’s more, there is usually a minimum order size. For reference, 100 pens are the standard minimum (but this will depend on the seller).
If we were to multiply the cost by the amount, it would add up to £32 for plastic pens and £88 for metal pens. If you’re making your choice based on cost alone, then plastic pens are the more affordable option.
In fact, if you’re just starting to grow your business, then plastic pens may be the best choice for you. At least until you can afford to expand your promotional item budget.
What is the Intended Purpose of the Pens?
The next question you will need to ask yourself is what is the intended purpose of the pens?
Promotional Pens
If their purpose is purely to promote your business, then you will also need to consider how many people you plan on sending them to.
For example, if there are only up to 100 recipients, you can opt for metal pens. But on the other hand, if there are 1000 or more recipients, then plastic pens are a far better option.
As you may remember, the cost for 100 metal pens is £88, but for 1000 it would be £880. For plastic pens, the cost of 1000 would be £320. Overall, by applying this simple math we can easily determine that metal pens will cost you three times the number of plastic ones.
Pens for Personal Use
If you’re looking to buy some pens for you and your employees to use, then the main thing you need to consider is whether you prefer using metal or plastic pens. Keep in mind that metal pens are more durable in the long run. So, unless you want to order double the amount of plastic ones, you should probably opt for metal pens.
Obviously, it would also be good to ask your employees about their preferences as well. Ultimately, they should offer you their opinion on whether you should opt for metal or plastic pens, and it’s up to you to keep your staff satisfied. Who knows, some may even prefer using plastic pens over metal ones.
Applying the Proper Branding
Once you determine whether you’re going to purchase plastic or metal pens, you will need to consider the branding.
Every successful business needs something visually appealing in order to gauge the attention of its customers.
For this, you will need to apply certain taglines and logos to your pens. Make sure to use attractive colour combinations for the background, but also, make sure that your logo is the most visible thing on your pens.
The entire point of promotional pens is to trigger people to remember your brand. If you create an interesting pen, the people who receive it will keep on using it. More importantly, they’ll be reminded of your business each time they glance at it.
Making the Right Impression
When it comes to deciding between metal and plastic pens, you should also consider what kind of impression you would like to make. A good example is to pretend you’re an architect just out of university. Let’s say you get hired by an architectural firm. While this firm may be respectable, there’s nothing that distinguishes it from other similar firms.
There are two paths you can go by:
- use the firm’s brand on its own
- add your own branding to the mix
While you obviously should support your firm’s brand, if you’re serious about your career, you should also consider upping your game.
For this, metal pens are the best choice. They will create an air of sophistication and determination that no client will be able to pass on. These pens should contain the name of your firm as well as your own name. In that way, you will be supporting your employer, but at the same time, you’ll show your clients you mean business!
On the other end of the spectrum, we also have companies that don’t use branded pens. When this is the case, then you can choose the more affordable route and opt to buy plastic promotional pens. Something as simple as adding your name and phone number will inevitably get you noticed.
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Why You Should Encourage Your Kids To Write With Pens
A Few Final Thoughts on Metal and Plastic Pens
While there is no clear winner when it comes to deciding between plastic and metal pens, ultimately, there’s no question that metal pens will make you appear more professional. They are, after all, more durable and visually appealing. In fact, some people will choose to write only with metal pens, as they have a certain weight to them.
However, if you’re on a budget, you can’t go wrong with plastic ones. In some cases, people will actually prefer plastic pens over metal ones, since they won’t feel as guilty if they lose them.
But in the end, if you choose pens to promote your business, either material will suffice. After all, any type of branding is better than no branding at all, especially if you want to make an impact on your customers.
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As always, the GoPromotional merchandising specialists are here to answer any questions you may have. Contact us to talk through your ideas. Together, we’ll make sure your chosen pens fit any event or giveaway you have in mind! You may give a member of our experienced team a call on 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today. You may also wish to consider complementing your order of pens with some custom printed notepads or branded notebooks which are sure to be well received by customers and employees alike!
