Editing The Pen Addict 384/transcript (section)

== Columbus Show Recap ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' That's great. That's great. So you were just at Columbus. So we've been talking for a few weeks about getting together to record this episode. I had the date wrong at first, which I fessed up to. But you were at Columbus last weekend. The previous weekend, you were in Toronto. How many shows do not just you, but how many pin shows? I know y'all do a lot of other, you know, travel for other business lines and other, you know, things you do outside of pin shows. It's constant. But how many pin shows does Ken Rowe show up at to in like in the U.S., I guess in Canada now?

'''Kerry Yeager:''' In the U.S., I think we did 12 shows this year.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Golly.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Out of 14. I think there was only actually yet that there was only I think only two shows maybe that we missed. That's a lot. That was it. Otherwise, we're there. It is, you know, it is a lot. But we have something to say. We have something to show. And we have insight and information we want to find, you know. And like I said, we really like what we do.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' So giving up weekends and traveling a lot and being away from the family is not always easy. But we're with our surrogate family. You know what I mean? And that's really how it feels. That's why we do it.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' That's a cool way to put it. And I'm going to embarrass you a little bit here. So I stream on Twitch now a couple of days a week in the mornings. And we just generally chat about Pen stuff. And today when I was live streaming, the topic came up that, hey, I'm talking to Kerry tonight. And, you know, do you all have any questions for Kerry? And they had a couple of questions. And I'll work those in later. But the general comments were like, oh, Kerry, I love him. He's always so happy. He's always smiling. He's always so friendly. He's always so nice. And you know what? I told them. I said, it's all true. I was like, everything you're saying is all true. Like, he is not that person that, like, takes any of this for granted. Like, he just loves doing this. So I know going to the show is how exhausting it is. But you're always, you know, you're always so nice and friendly to everyone that I see and everyone that interacts with you. So I wanted you to know that you got a bunch of shout outs on the Twitch stream today. So that was pretty funny.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Yeah. That's cool. That's good. That's good to hear. It's hot. You know why it's good to hear? Because sometimes you feel, you're in the grind too. You know, you feel like sometimes you're like, I'm so beat. And you're like, did I just do the right thing with that person? Did I? Yeah. No, I was good. I was good. Or the worst is you'll, at the end of the show, you'll go up to the room and you'll sit down for five minutes. And then you realize it's like 10 o'clock at night. Totally. And you go downstairs and half the people are gone and you're like, you know, you, not that you need, not that you need to be there. Not that we need to be there. Everyone listening. Not that we need to be there. Right. Everybody does. But, but it's just, you know, you, you just feel like you want to be, always be there to support. And, you know, I mean, for me, it's always making sure I engage with people that are, that are new. And, uh, I think that's why I like pen shows after dark, the way that whole thing came about, you know, Lisa and everything. And, and I just, I think it's such a good way to bring so many people in because I hear that story. Sometimes somebody will come to me, you know, and it's always embarrassing. It's, but they're like, you know, you were so nice and, and I didn't know anybody. And you, you like sit at our table and just sit down and it doesn't matter what you have and just hang out with us. And he's like, and now I have so many friends and blah, blah, blah. And then, and, you know, it may sound trivial and silly sometimes, but it, it, it keeps people involved in something that, you know, maybe they were meant to be involved in and they didn't get scared away and, and, and not be part of the community as a whole.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, yeah, that feedback means everything to me, like that, you know, people getting, you know, going outside their normal, you know, feeling to go into like a crowded room with a bunch of people that you may not know everything about all the things that you're about to see. And to be able to have some sense of comfort and normalcy that we can hopefully help provide just by spending some time, you know, talking and like showing you around and explaining things. Like there's nothing I would rather be doing than that. I promise you that like, that is it for me. Like if I can help people out at these pin shows, because I was there too. And like, you just want to go in and be able to be relaxed and have fun and, you know, enjoy the atmosphere and the people and the things you see. And, uh, it's not easy for everyone. And I just try to try my best to like make it a great situation for everyone. So that's, that's super cool. Um, I'm going to put you on the spot and make you pick your favorite pin show of the year. Go.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' San Francisco.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So I, if that was probably like the odds on favorite, like I'm pretty sure, um, we got to see each other for probably less than five minutes at that show. I would think that's safe to say.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Yeah, that's probably about right. Yeah. That's how it goes sometimes, but yeah, that show.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' It's a great show. Um, it's great layout, great, um, show promoters and great crowd. It's just a super, super fun show. I was jealous. You went to Toronto a couple of weeks ago because I had so much fun last year. That was one of the favorite, my favorite trips I've ever taken. Um, I know that shows difficult for a lot of people cause it's one day and it's very busy and very crowded, but it's just a cool vibe. And you can do things in the days leading up to the show. Like we went around to, you know, the pin stores in Toronto and things like that and got to hang out up there. So, I mean, who doesn't want to go to Toronto, right? Um, that's very cool. Um, you're doing something, uh, off books here pretty soon. Uh, is that, is that the safe way to say it? Maybe some little overseas travel to do a little something. What do you, what do you have up your sleeve?

'''Kerry Yeager:''' So, I'm actually going to the Madrid pin show in 10 days.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, let's, let's just to get this straight, you've done like 10 or 12 pin shows for work. Um, and then for like, I'm going to air quote vacation, you're going to go to a pin show. Do I have that correct? Pretty much.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' That is, uh, that's correct. There you go.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Um, how did this come about and what are you, what are you most looking forward to?

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Um, uh, let's see. I have had, cause I talked to everybody. Um, many people say, you know, that the overseas shows, cause I always spoke about it after going, I think it came after script is the first time. And I was like, this is really cool just to see what it's like. So what show do you go to after that? And all the shows over there are one day. Madrid is the one that's actually three days. So it made, it just made more sense to shoot for that one. And last year I was actually trying to navigate how to do it. And it didn't work out. And this year navigating, navigating, and it just happened to fall into play. Uh, and it's funny at the, uh, Ed Capizzi who owns the Colorado show, who I'm friends with, and I've been always helping him with the show. He is going as well. Nice. Um, and Sarge, the one man pen show. I've spoken to him about it a couple of times and, uh, he, you know, anything he says sounds great. First of all, the accent is just crushes it every time. Um, but he's like, oh, I might, I'm not even going to try it. But he said, oh mate, I'll see you for a drink. And I was like, you know what? I got, I got to figure it out. But that being said, when I told Brian Hulser, our vice president, uh, that I was going, he, um, you know, part of, part of Estherbrook is going worldwide. It is, you know, going global. Right. And he started looking into it and we have a distributor there that we've been working with for a while. And he didn't, you know, I think at the time, he just didn't realize that it was a three-day show because we were used to everything being one day. Long story short, it's a three-day show. There's people to see. It made it worthwhile. So Estherbrook, you know, right? Kenroll, but we're going as Estherbrook, um, is going to be a sponsor and have a table. At the Madrid Pen show.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Oh, wow. That's cool. That's very cool.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' So Brian actually is going to go. So now I have somebody else that's that, that is going.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Nice.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Um, and while I'm not working, of course, you know, I'm going to, I'll end up behind the table, yakking it up. I'm sure for a little while, but yeah, so we're, who knows, maybe now, maybe next year I'll be going, not on vacation. Now I'll be working and having to go. Hey, the hardships of life, the hardships of life having to, you know, so, but no, I'm really am looking forward to it.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' You said something there that, that made me, uh, made me want to ask you this. Are you more comfortable in front of the table or behind the table?

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Hmm. No, behind the table or in front of the table. It mean, it only leads to bad things.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Right. Like, that's how I answer it too. Like I'm, I end up, I'm, if I'm not working, which is very rare, I'll still end up behind the table because that's my comfort zone. Right. That's where I feel the most comfortable talking to people. Like shopping around, I still feel awkward. Like, even though like, it's like totally fine. Like I still end up behind someone, either my table or someone else's table wanting to help or work or do something. I don't know why. Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' But that's just it. No, you're right. You want to, you're, cause you want to engage. You want to do just every opportunity. It just, it's just natural that you want to do that. I, I totally, totally agree. I know exactly what you mean.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yep. Yep. It's an interesting feeling, but it's, it's cool. I've, I've just caught myself doing it when I shouldn't be doing it. Like when I should be taking a break, like I won't do it. It's just weird. All right. Speaking of breaks, I got one more break. We're going to take, then we're going to talk about all things fountain pen day. I want to hear how this fountain pen day went for you and everybody else. This episode of the pen addict podcast is brought to you by Eero. If you want to binge watch your favorite TV shows from anywhere in the house without interruption, you need Eero. Eero blankets, your whole home with fast, reliable wifi, eliminating poor coverage, dead spots and buffering. So you can have consistently strong signal wherever you need it. I use Eero here at the house. My house is kind of like long and skinny and spread out. So I have the central location where the modem is hooked up from the street. The Eero plugs into that. Then I have the Eero hubs that are throughout my house that allow me to get wifi all the way back in the bedroom, which is like the furthest point from where my wifi connectivity is at. And Eero works fantastically for that. Eero is the wifi your home deserves. There's an all new Eero starting at just $99. And it just, and it sets up in just minutes. Just plug it straight into your modem or router box. You can even manage it from a super simple app, which I use all the time, which lets you do cool stuff like pause the wifi while you're all eating dinner and get alerts. If any new device tries to join your network. Eero has fixed all of my wifi problems. No more dead spots, no more buffering. You can get yours fixed as soon as tomorrow. Go to Eero.com slash pin and enter the code pin at checkout. That's P E N pin to get free overnight shipping with your order. That's E E R O.com slash pin. Enter the code pin at checkout to get your Eero delivered free with overnight shipping. Our thanks to Eero for their support of this show and to relay FM. All right, Carrie. So before this whole Kenro thing, you were working your day job. And on the side, you had this mad hatter idea of creating a little thing called fountain pen day, where we can all celebrate the love of all things, writing and fountain pens. For those who are not familiar, can you give us a little bit of the background of how that started? All right. I'll give you the short and sweet.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Eight years ago. Eight. Can you believe it's been eight years? I can't.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I can't. This one, I can believe.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Eight years. I mean, all right. So the quick and dirty, here you go. I'll give it short because they can always go back and listen because I gave a whole long drawn out.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I know, but we get new listeners every week. So we want to, we want to give an update.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' The update. All right. The update is we'll backtrack really quick and say that eight years ago, if you go to on fountain pen network and search, you'll see the original conversation. I haven't looked in a while. I'm pretty sure it's still there. I hope it's still there. But there was a group of us that decided that it was national pencil day. I think it was something like that. It was one of those days, ballpoint pen or pencil. And there was no fountain pen day. And I just remember at the time I was like, why is it a fountain pen day? And I was in, I was in the rabbit hole. Like I had just, I had just gotten submerged enough that, that I'm like, I'm in. And, um, you know, enthusiasm is peak to the max. So I'm Googling fountain pen day in quotes to see what came up. And literally nothing came up. The only thing that came up was like some weird, um, song from like Japan or something. And it was just a googly, uh, translation from Google. That was like an error. And it's a fountain pen day song, but it really wasn't. That sounds accurate. It was just crazy. So there was nothing. And so I was like, all right, well, I'm going to open the Twitter account. I don't think we had Instagram then. I think that came later and I'll do the Facebook. And I started that and we were all chatting as a group and blah, blah, blah. And, uh, Rachel Gley helped me like even set up the Facebook page. She was an admin on it back then just to help me. Cause I didn't know how to do it. I wanted to do it. And, you know, there was about eight of us and we came up with a date. Um, I didn't come up the original date. I forgot who did, but they said, we finally came up with the first Friday in November because the first Friday in November is after Halloween. So you've cleaned up from that and it's three weeks before Thanksgiving. So it's in like this little dead zone and it's always on a Friday. We thought because Friday you can bring your favorite pen to work and it's your opportunity to engage those around you with your craziness. And, and when they see you with a fountain pen and they wonder why you're not just dictating into your phone, you can express to them why writing is good and what makes it great. And challenge them and kind of bring it in. And then on the weekend, you know, spread it out. You can hang out with your friends and have a pen meetup and maybe get, and at that time, maybe get retail stores to engage with you and open the doors and let pen meets happen and stuff. I'll get to that in a minute. And that was the whole idea. People's lives got busier and busier as we got closer and closer. Cause this was in like July or August. And, uh, by the time November came around, I contacted like John goals and Van S and found pen hospital, Goulet, obviously. And a couple of others. I know I'm leaving some out. I think Pen Chalet and maybe even, um, Goldspot. Um, but anyways, I got them on board and they were like, okay, you know, and by the time it came around, it w it was, it was me. And I mean, it was me. Yeah. And because people's lives get busy. It wasn't anyone's, it wasn't like anyone abandoned, you know, these people are still around and, but that's how it was. So I was in a conundrum of, I really shouldn't tell anyone that it's just me with this, you know, running this crazy idea because these are huge companies. These are, these are been around for 50, 60 years and I just kept going with it. And I kept pushing ahead and pushing ahead and pushing ahead. The first year came and went and I just kept updating and kept, you know, emailing different companies out there and retailers. And, um, the second year came around and it grew even more. And by the third year, I think is when we started, um, the Instagram and I had a guy, um, Scott Fuller, who, um, at the time was just starting out, um, was a designer. And I got him to do the logo for like super cheap. And he's like pretty much untouchable right now. Uh, I think he, he just did the Atlanta heats logo or something crazy like that. Um, so super guy helped me out. And anyways, from there, it just, it just escalated and escalated and escalated until I went on your show. And then I, that was kind of like an open confession of, by the way, when it first started, I didn't realize that it was, she was just kind of like me. And, but I just, I just took a really personal, you know, that I thought it was super important. It was really good. And even though it was something we, we invented in the community, it was ours and it shouldn't be anybody else's. And that's why I've held onto it the way that I have. And I don't, I don't take donations. I mean, I do the buttons for shows and I try and do social media and push and push and push because I don't want anybody to grab it. You know, this isn't a Valentine's day thing. This is, this is ours. And you know, it's just, it's nobody's, nobody's allowed to have it. And everybody knows where it comes from. So if nobody can grab it because, you know, no, nothing's trademarked everybody, but guess what? If somebody were to try and do something, you would have a mass exodus from your brand simply because I would tell them.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Yeah. And, uh, you know, that this is just not right. So anyways, that's neither here nor there. The bottom line is it's a lot of fun. It gets engagement. And now you see what's happened that my dream of having retail stores open their doors and invite people in and have events on that day. And really engage with the community on like a one-to-one friends level has just expanded. And, and they do that. And it happens more and more every year across the globe. I mean, there are the Ohio Pen show is on Fountain Pen Day weekend. Terry booked the hotel for like five years straight in his contract to be on that weekend because he wanted to show on Fountain Pen Day weekend. He really, you know, got into it. And, and it's just, you know, the, the, the retailers out there tell me every year it just gets bigger and bigger. And it's become part of it, a black Friday, if you will. You know what I mean? Like everybody's got a sale, but everybody's got a sale along with something to give away. They've got a raffle. They've got ways for people to engage and, and get together and have meetups. And, and, you know, they're just giving back to the community, you know, on a level beyond a discount on a, on a pen. You know what I mean? And, and it's, it's a give and take.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So that's definitely a common thread between all the businesses that we work with is how willing they are to give back to their customers, to the community as a whole, you know, to put on these events during Fountain Pen Day. Like, which is, it's totally taken a life of its own in these past several years. Right. It's just like, it's, it's like anticipated and expected that, you know, your favorite retailer or your local pen store or your favorite blog or anything like that is just going to do something for Fountain Pen Day. And I think it's, it's pretty cool to see the community come together behind our own day, if you will. I think it's just a, a really fun, fun thing to look forward to every, uh, every first Friday in November. It's pretty cool. And, um, is this the first year you've made a pen along with Fountain Pen Day? I know you've designed other pens and made other pens with people, but were they for Fountain Pen Day? Tell me what you did here.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' There was, there was one, we did one two years ago. Um, uh, I just drew a blank. Crusack? I know the Crusack pen, but I don't know. Crusack, right. We did that. And then this one, um, I sat down with Scott in Baltimore and just told him my thoughts and ideas. And Scott Franklin, Franklin Kristoff. Scott Franklin. Yes. Very. I'm taking, I'm taking for granted. Everyone knows. So yes. Scott Franklin of Franklin Kristoff pens. Um, you know, I sat down with him and this pen was amazing. It means something to me more than just, you know, having a Fountain Pen Day pen because we did it in the, uh, matte ghost. And that color actually back for four years ago, five years ago, I went to the triangle pen show and it was Saturday night, Friday night or Saturday night. And Scott took myself, Eleanor, I own and Eric, hi Eric. Um, to his shop at like seven o'clock at night. And one of the guys that works there and he's going to kill me because I just drew a blank on his name. Tall runs the machines. Yeah. Anyways, we went back there and literally is it Brian? Yeah. Brian. Is it Brian? I don't know. I don't know. It's one of those two. We'll both get yelled at. I own my beer. Yeah. Yeah. So bottom line is we made a pen. Scott showed us how he makes a pen. And this is after a full day at a pen show. We will go back to his shop and I literally made a ghost 45, no markings on it, nothing. And, uh, then Eleanor made a pen and it was blue and it was, and she didn't polish it. She left it matte. And I always thought, I'm like, wow, ghost matte. Maybe I shouldn't have polished mine. And, uh, so when we got together in Baltimore, I said, you know, orange is my jam. It's my color. And, uh, I think at the time he said, yeah, you and Brad, you know, something like that.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. Cause we were working with that. We were doing the first O2 at the, we did the O2 and the 66. So we would be doing the 60, the pocket 66 at the time.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Yeah. Yes. And so he said, all right, so what do you want to do? And I told him, I said, I would like to do the ghost like you and I made, but in Matt, like you did for Eleanor on hers, um, with orange shrimp and have it for found pen day. I thought that would be really cool. Just do, just do 88 of them. They're not numbered, but whatever. And I asked him about engraving. And of course, engraving. That was a, he was like, listen, can't do engraving. If I do it for you, I have to do it for everybody as he's, you know, sipping the scotch or whiskey or whatever it was. And just, you know, cause he's trying to be polite. Cause I think he was like ready to kill me. And when he's telling me no, cause I was kind of like, well, why not? You know? And, uh, so, but it's something that they don't do. It's just, it's just so much work.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Oh yeah.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' So, uh, when I spoke to Lisa about it, I know that, uh, Van Ness pens.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' You're, you're acting like we're just sitting at the bar talking. This is how we normally talk. So we just have to elaborate a little bit for the listeners.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Absolutely. And it is, we don't get to talk like this too often. So, um, but yeah, so Lisa Van Ness was like, we can engrave it. And, um, I said, really? So we did a couple of testers and it came out exactly how I would look so good. I mean, she really, she crushed the engraving and did such a good job. So we typical, you know, everything last minute. Right. So we ended up getting the pens, I think like last Thursday, they did them over the weekend so that they would be ready. And, uh, well, Thursday before last, so they would be ready. And, uh, and then Lisa has been practicing, uh, blending inks and she did one for, she did one or two, two for Joey Feldman actually. And, uh, really cool stuff. And she's like, you know, maybe I could make a, an orange ink. And I'm like, okay. And I, cause I didn't want to push her cause she's just, there's somebody who's on the go 24 seven, always on. And, uh, so she's like, I'll do it. And she did it. She did the label. And so we were able to have something a little extra special this year. And it was really nice. And, and, you know, it's nothing that I did other than suggestions and, you know, asking and, you know, people in the community always come together. And I think it really made a lot of people happy. I saw, you know, a couple of people at the Ohio pen show had actually come up to me and said, Oh, I ordered one. And it's like, cool. And, you know, you see them online and people getting them. And, uh, you know, like I said, at the end, it means something because it reminds me every time I see that pen, it reminds me of a moment I had with a really good friend, just hanging out in his shop and he's showing me how he does what he does, you know? And, uh, that was really nice. Super special this year.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. You can still get them at Van S pens. We'll have the link in the show notes and the ink still available. And Carrie, um, this was another moment to use your words with a very good friend. And I really appreciate you coming on and sharing your stories with us and, uh, telling us all the ins and outs of what you were up to. These days and we'll make it not so long, uh, between episodes next time. Uh, we'll, we'll work on that a little bit more. So before we go, tell everyone, uh, plug all the things, where do you want people to find you? Where do you want people to look? And we'll have all these links in the show notes.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' I am going to be, uh, everywhere. I'll be in Madrid. Everyone that's in Madrid from Sarge and, and Antran and, uh, everybody else. I will see you there, uh, this weekend. Let's see. I'm going to be at Farnie's on Friday. I will be at Bertram's on Saturday. Uh, then December starts. We'll be at Fountain Pen Hospital. Uh, I think the fifth, sixth, seventh. And then the week after that, I am going to back up to the Virginia, Maryland area and I'm going to be at Farnie's, Bertram's, Levenger and, and boutique for an event on that Saturday. Then the week after that, starting Wednesday, I'll be at Atlas stationers for an event and Levenger for an event. And I believe I'll be seeing the Andersons as well on Friday. And then I think the year ends.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' And then it starts all over again.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' And wait, and then, and then we go into Philadelphia, which is a week later this year, I think actually.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. It's like the 17th ish, something like that. Okay. So we're into 2020 January now. No rest for the weary, man. No, you got it.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Listen, I'm around there. And again, I love seeing everybody and I really do appreciate the community and I'm hanging out. So whether it's a DC crew, the New York crew, or everyone in San Francisco or Dallas or, you know, everywhere, Arkansas. I mean, I can't, I can shout out everybody or the awesome people in Toronto. It's just, you know, living the dream and really, really appreciating it and everybody out there.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yep. It's fantastic. So you can find this show and all of Relay FM show at relay.fm. This particular one is at slash pen addict. It will be 384 this week. So go there, find all, all of our wonderful podcast work that we do as a network. You can find me at pen addict.com and all of my links for all of the shenanigans I am up to can be found from there. So thank you, Carrie, for joining us. And until next time, say goodbye, Carrie.

'''Kerry Yeager:''' Goodbye, Brad.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' And thank you so much again. You got it, man. We'll see you later. Thank you.

[[Category:Podcast Transcripts]]
[[Category:The Pen Addict Podcast Transcript]]