Toronto International Pen Show (Tips) 2012 - Yes!

[Shari Bridge]

Hello ALL!

 

It's been a not so white winter here in the Great (white) North...and time to think spring and PEN SHOW!!!

 

News - Thanks to Bill Smith for his years of suggestions and assistance to both my father, Bob, and myself. Bill is leaving the show and moving on to other pursuits... Best of luck Bill! Keep on writin'!

 

It is time for the Toronto Intl Pen Show (TIPS) to head in a new direction, and so I would like to get Pen Passionate folks together to form a TIPS Committee. Please email me with any and all suggestions, and especially if you would like to be a part of the Show Committee. My father worked hard to get this show up and running, and so if you'd like to see a Show in Toronto continue, please step up and give us a hand! (many hands make light work they say!)

 

I will post on FPN any planning meetings, seminars, talks, and when we have it....a SPRING SHOW DATE!

 

I am positive that with all of the Pen Passionate folks we have in Southern Ontario, we can make the 2012 Show the BEST ON YET!

 

So....LET'S GET ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

 

Cheers,

Sharie Bridge

 

bridgepromo@rogers.com

www.torontopenshow.com

[Limerickoshea]

Hello ALL!

 

It's been a not so white winter here in the Great (white) North...and time to think spring and PEN SHOW!!!

 

News - Thanks to Bill Smith for his years of suggestions and assistance to both my father, Bob, and myself. Bill is leaving the show and moving on to other pursuits... Best of luck Bill! Keep on writin'!

 

It is time for the Toronto Intl Pen Show (TIPS) to head in a new direction, and so I would like to get Pen Passionate folks together to form a TIPS Committee. Please email me with any and all suggestions, and especially if you would like to be a part of the Show Committee. My father worked hard to get this show up and running, and so if you'd like to see a Show in Toronto continue, please step up and give us a hand! (many hands make light work they say!)

 

I will post on FPN any planning meetings, seminars, talks, and when we have it....a SPRING SHOW DATE!

 

I am positive that with all of the Pen Passionate folks we have in Southern Ontario, we can make the 2012 Show the BEST ON YET!

 

So....LET'S GET ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

 

Cheers,

Sharie Bridge

 

bridgepromo@rogers.com

www.torontopenshow.com

Hi Sharie:

 

I've been meaning to respond for some time but my plate is full and I didn't want to start something I couldn't finish. Anyway, I'd be happy to help organize the TIPS. Things get "regular" again for me after March 25 so I'd be ready to discuss what needs to be done, when and how.

 

Let me know.

 

Joe

[tinta]

When?

I've been asking around at FPN to no avail, till now.

Have I missed something?

Cheers:

Istvan

 

PM sent to Sharie Bridge

Edited March 14, 2012 by tinta

[Starcrafty]

I'd be down for helping out. Im pretty new with the whole fountain pen side of things but I have some experience organizing and running events.

[silverhand]

I hope you are able to put together a show this spring. I am interested in selling again, but to be honest, the attendance numbers really need to pick up to make it worth my while. You also really need to improve communications about the show. Finding information about the show has been spotty in the past, and the only place that had any info, the website, is no longer working. At the very least go to mailchimp.com and setup a free mailing list for past vendors so you can let them know what is going on.

[Limerickoshea]

I'd be down for helping out. Im pretty new with the whole fountain pen side of things but I have some experience organizing and running events.

 

Hmmm, you know Starcrafty, I have a feeling we may have waited too long to respond to Sharie. I'm all for pulling a show together - I have some event experiencer myself - but I don't know the pen world well enough to jump in without veteran support and guidance. How would you suggest we proceed? I'm thinking a spring show is not in the cards but early summer? Post Labour day?

 

Joe

[saskia_madding]

I'm all for helping too. Let me know what you guys need.

[Federer]

Please make this happen!

[Mags]

I would be prepared to help and sit the door a little. Let's try to just put the show in a hotel versus the airport trade show area. Could the Trump building or Laywines help us with setting the pen show up. Avoid Father's Day weekend and Mothers Day and I can likely help.

 

We need to grow the event and market the date and venue and get PlayBook and Apple.out as they are clearly being used with increased use by fountain pen user and the Bic crowd so eventual FP users.

[pb2au]

I would be prepared to help and sit the door a little. Let's try to just put the show in a hotel versus the airport trade show area. Could the Trump building or Laywines help us with setting the pen show up. Avoid Father's Day weekend and Mothers Day and I can likely help.

 

We need to grow the event and market the date and venue and get PlayBook and Apple.out as they are clearly being used with increased use by fountain pen user and the Bic crowd so eventual FP users.

 

 

It's been too long. I really love going to see the show. I also suggest it move away from the airport into a venue closer to downtown.

 

I was speaking to Akhil who owns Sleuth and Statesman and he would be a good guy to drive organization. I think the bricks and mortar shop owners in Toronto would be the parties to approach to steer this ship.

[tinta]

Is there any location or any time frame that has been considered?

 

As I have PM-ed to Shari, I could help with some aspect of running the show (registration? tickets? man a table, a door, etc...................)

Nothing too electronic though...I'm still using ink, reed & papyrus. (Don't let this posting fool you, a computer for me is still only a fancy typewriter. Most other functions are still to be discovered.)

 

If my low-tech abilities Would help, I could be available.

 

tinta

(Istvan)

[Mkim]

I was wondering what happened to the Pen Show here in Toronto...

 

I was really hoping to go this year

If not a "show", maybe a large gathering of Pen Collectors? Much like a large GTG but with potential for mass trade/selling opportunities!

 

ps. funny thing I noticed was that here in Toronto, not too many watch collectors around...but FP collectors there seems to be plenty hiding about!

[Mags]

We seem focused on a fall event given the time of year right?

[bluejay]

I would be prepared to help and sit the door a little. Let's try to just put the show in a hotel versus the airport trade show area. Could the Trump building or Laywines help us with setting the pen show up. Avoid Father's Day weekend and Mothers Day and I can likely help.

 

We need to grow the event and market the date and venue and get PlayBook and Apple.out as they are clearly being used with increased use by fountain pen user and the Bic crowd so eventual FP users.

 

 

It's been too long. I really love going to see the show. I also suggest it move away from the airport into a venue closer to downtown.

 

I was speaking to Akhil who owns Sleuth and Statesman and he would be a good guy to drive organization. I think the bricks and mortar shop owners in Toronto would be the parties to approach to steer this ship.

He must be desperate since he lost two of his three stores downtown. Someone should tell him that his prices are 3 times as much as vendors from states.

[tinta]

Folks, I'm still in the dark here.

 

Could someone please post, who has gone to Toronto Pen Shows in the past.

 

Where were they held?

What kind of attendance did they have?

What time of the year did this event "usually" take place?

Did vendors come up from the States?....From across Canada?

Were there nib/pen technicians there to work on pens/nibs?

Could you sell your pens to vendors on these shows?

Were there representatives there of FP companies or distributors?

Were there GTA B & M stores represented?

Were there clubs represented?

 

I'm familiar with Fly fishing shows & custom knife shows, but I've no idea what happens in a Pen Show.

 

I'm not suggesting re-inventing the past, I'm just curious, because I'd like to go to a Pen Show & if possible help out.

 

ed; for spelling

 

Cheers:

 

tinta

Edited May 7, 2012 by tinta

[raging.dragon]

Folks, I'm still in the dark here.

 

Could someone please post, who has gone to Toronto Pen Shows in the past.

 

Where were they held?

What kind of attendance did they have?

What time of the year did this event "usually" take place?

Did vendors come up from the States?....From across Canada?

Were there nib/pen technicians there to work on pens/nibs?

Could you sell your pens to vendors on these shows?

Were there representatives there of FP companies or distributors?

Were there GTA B & M stores represented?

Were there clubs represented?

 

I'm familiar with Fly fishing shows & custom knife shoes, but I've no idea what happens in a Pen Show.

 

I'm not suggesting re-inventing the past, I'm just curious, because I'd like to go to a Pen Show & if possible help out.

 

Cheers:

 

tinta

 

I've only been to one show (2010?) and:

 

• 
   
  
• It was held in a hotel near the airport. If I recall correctly there was a coin collectors convention in another room of the same hotel.
  
• Brian Gray of Edison Pens was there.
  
• I don't recall seeing a nib technician.
  
• All the major local stores were there: Laywine's, Sleuth & Statesman, Phidon and there was a Quebec dealer (I believe it was stylo.ca).
  
• Several distributors were present, the ones I recall being Sheaffer and Pilot/Namiki (or perhaps it was Danitrio? Anyway they had alot of high end maki-e pens).
  
• There were several smaller dealers and independant collectors there selling.
  
• I don't recal seeing any clubs.
  

[tinta]

Thanks "Raging Dragon", what you've listed is what I approximately imagined one of these shows would be like. All this is promising, but when & where for this calendar year.

I'd think that planing a show like this may be quite time consuming & volunteer work at that.

Do you know who did the organizing?

 

My pen & nib needs are pretty well taken care of, for now, but I could be tempted. Besides, I usually need papers & inks.

Having a competent nib-technician present would definitely insure my attendance.

[raging.dragon]

Shari Bridge was the driving force behind the last several shows. Based on what I see here, and discussions I've had offline, I think the Toronto pen community is waiting to hear from Shari and quietly contemplating options if is unable to continue organizing the show.

[The Kid Line]

I'd like to toss my hat into the ring to help out. Not quite sure what I can offer, but would like to try.

 

I just tried to visit the website for the show, and I'm getting a server not found error.

 

I also notice, that sadly, Shari hasn't been active on the board since January 25th. Has anyone been in contact with Shari since then?

[Starcrafty]

Hey Guys,

Ive been away for a while but now that I've graduated and am job hunting I've got quite a bit of free time. Anyone been able to contact Shari? and if not shall we attempt to organize something?