Editing The Pen Addict 248/transcript (section)

== Vintage Pens ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' Nice. All right. So I'm going to roll Scott's question three and four kind of together because we've already answered part of this. He says, what have you both learned from the experience of making and selling notebooks? This includes things like paper quality, vendor relations, distribution, online sales, et cetera. So we kind of covered that with how our particularness very much plays out in like everything in that question, the quality, the vendors, distribution, sales, everything is like super, super particular. But then he leads into what other products and or services have you two considered? So what have you considered doing anything besides notebooks, Matt? Because people always wanted me to make a pen and I just kind of refuse to do that. I'm not saying I never will, but that doesn't interest me. Have you considered doing anything? I really haven't.

'''Matt Armstrong:''' And I don't know why I haven't. I think it's just not something that's ever been a huge focus for me. I like the note. I like paper and it's fun. That kind of stuff is fun for me. Plus I have the skills-ish to do it. So that's an area that – and there's still so much more to do in that realm. All I've got is a blank aligned and a currently inked log. But I've got ideas for probably 20 or 30 other products and a bunch of different sizes. And so I think there's still a lot of realm to explore there before I get bored with it. Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' And I think that kind of leads into the next question that Scott had. He says, Brad, you have monetized your refill newsletter and I find it to be outstanding value. Has Matt considered any type of subscription service? And I don't see that necessarily like a subscription service. I think I would pose the question more, have you thought about any more ways – and this is an awkward word to say and I don't like it – but to monetize anything you do. And I think creating more notebooks, like you're saying, that's on the radar. Is there anything else you've considered either maybe a digital good or a subscription service? Have you thought about any of these types of things?

'''Matt Armstrong:''' I've thought about them. I've kind of roundly ruled out a lot of them largely because it's a time commitment thing. So in addition to doing the pen habit, I do still have a full-time job and will continue to have a full-time job for a long time, I suspect. But I also run my own audiobook production and distribution company and narrate a lot of audiobooks. So I'm kind of running three businesses simultaneously or not – you know, I've got a job and then I'm running two separate businesses simultaneously. So it's adding more things that take up my time is not really in the cards anymore. I've kind of – I'm at peak Matt right now. So I think from here on out, it's going to be how do I minimize my own input or find ways to bring other people in. And if I can do that and make it work, then that's something that I'll consider. But anything that requires more of my time is kind of out.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Right, right. And I think this kind of – I'm going to jump into the next question from Robo Jim – talks about this very thing and how, okay, I transitioned, you know, from, you know, standard job, what people would consider a standard job into turning the pen addict and knock into my full-time job. And you make it very clear that you enjoy your full-time job and keep, you know, the pen habit and inky fingers as a side gig. What challenges, you know, besides time? I mean, I think time is probably the best thing. But, you know, are there any more challenges to keep both of these things going? Is there any reason that you say don't want to make the jump to doing fountain pens and stationary stuff full-time? Have you thought about – has that ever come up in the dream scenario?

'''Matt Armstrong:''' Yeah, it has. I'm a little hesitant to even entertain that notion too much for a couple reasons. One, Seattle is a very expensive place to live. And for me to continue living here in the lifestyle to which I have become accustomed, I would have – I mean, with the dog. Yeah, exactly. I've got to keep him in milk bones. Yes. So I would have to make so much more money than I'm making on the pen habit. I mean, like 10 to 15 times more than I'm making just to maintain where I am right now. And I just don't see how pouring more of my time into it. I would have to try to build an empire. And I don't know that I have that in me. So we'll see. The other thing is I find that once I turn a hobby into a job, it stops being fun. Yeah. And I – this is one of those few things that I enjoy enough and have been able to maintain for as long as I have. That I'm afraid of trying to turn it into more than it already is. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'm just going to, you know, put the pens in the pen box and not ink them up anymore because I'm so burned out. Right. And so I don't want that to happen. I also don't have a spouse. I'm not saying that that is the sole reason you've been able to be so successful doing what you're doing. But it is nice to have that additional support and that additional, you know, income in case you have a bad month. And I don't have that. So, you know, I've often laughed. I'm not cute enough to have a sugar daddy and not rich enough to be one. But, yeah, you know, if we get to the point maybe where I've got a spouse and we could – it's something I would certainly consider. But there would have to be some scenario changes.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, it was certainly kind of a perfect storm of things. And, you know, me having my wife who's had a stable job for 15 years and insurance, it makes it easier to have that to fall back on to be able to make, like, crazy decisions like I did. And definitely, like, the cost of living totally is a thing, too. Like, I live in the country. Like, last night, I was driving my daughter to guitar practice. I almost road-killed a turkey, then had to wait for a hay truck to cross the train tracks in front of the taxidermy shop. So, I live in a very low-cost area.

'''Myke Hurley:''' That is one of the weirdest sentences I have ever heard. Can you say that again, please?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' That was my drive last night to guitar practice. Like, it's all woods, like, where I live. So, it's, like, I don't pass, like, a single retail establishment, like, until I get to, like, where a guitar practice is. It's like a 20-minute drive. There was this huge turkey that crossed the road. And I was, like, slamming on the brakes. The kids were cracking up because he was huge and running around like crazy. And then, you know, we have to cross over these train tracks. And there was, you know, there's all these farms around where I live. It's all horses and cows. And there's always hay trucks moving hay from one location to the other. And he was kind of stuck on the train track, which is where the taxidermy shop is where I live. So, yeah, it's kind of crazy. Okay.

'''Matt Armstrong:''' So, why am I hearing the soundtrack from Deliverance in my head right now?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, it's totally. You can imagine, like, some of the, like, we won't get into it. But you can imagine some of the struggles I have in this area. But it's, you know, it's where we live. So, it's not Seattle. That's for sure. So, those are the things, like, that I, you know, that have made it easier for me to, you know, the decisions I've had to make about, you know, my business. You know, it's really a perfect storm kind of situation. So, it's a little crazy. So, all right. So, last couple of questions. We'll get through these real quick from Sebastian. He wants to know, what do you want to see happen in the future for the fountain pen industry? For example, for me, it's the arrival of new manufacturers such as Twisby who offer great products at good prices or that all product pilot products are available outside Japan and at better prices. So, do you have anything that you say, boy, I wish this industry that we all love so much and are a huge part of, what could they do to make it even more awesome?

'''Matt Armstrong:''' So, I have a couple things. One, I would love for someone to figure out how to make good old-fashioned style flex nibs. If for no other reason than I could stop answering the question, why can't anyone make flex nibs like they used to? Because that's probably the most frequently asked question I ever get. The other one is I would like to see pen companies start operating on a global scale and not on several small local scales. Kind of what Sebastian said in the question was some of these games that the companies are playing with the retailers, you have to have a brick-and-mortar store to get access to our inventory. You have to sell all of it or sell none of it. We're only going to bring these products into this country, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. I feel like the companies that have been most successful are the ones who have realized that style of business does not work in the modern economy and have gotten away from that. I'd like to see many more retailers do the same thing. I also would like to see a pretty hefty focus on the increase of quality control in nibs. Even in just the last four years, I have seen nib quality control go down pretty substantially, I think, especially with some of the luxury retailers or luxury brands. They're just not putting as much focus on their nib quality as they used to. I think there's some that are, but not as many as I feel like used to maybe four years ago. Maybe that's just I have more experience and can recognize what's wrong more than I used to be able to. Those are kind of my big areas that I'd like to see focused on.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, I agree with you wholeheartedly on we're in a global market now, and I wish some of these manufacturers would realize that and make it easier for us to love you and to give you the boost that comes with being part of a global stationary community. There's definitely some companies that are very much stuck in their old habits, old business models and things like that. I would definitely like to see a more open worldwide community from a manufacturing perspective, how they're releasing products, how they're handling promotion, how they're doing things to continue to grow this market because it's pretty clear it's growing. So I would like to see more openness from the top down, if you will.

'''Matt Armstrong:''' And to be honest, I don't think it will always continue to grow. Yeah, sure. Now, if you're going to innovate and you're going to change your business model, now is the time to do it because you want to be well positioned for when the market starts to slow down or starts to decrease again because it's going to happen. Markets are cyclical. Yep. So, yeah, I feel like there are a couple manufacturers out there who are doing a really good job of it. Aurora being one where they seem to have gotten the wake up call that the market is not what it used to be and they're making some pretty serious changes. Right. And I appreciate that. I feel like there are other ones who are going the opposite direction, kind of digging in their heels and saying, no, we like it the way it used to be. And companies that do that are the ones that operate themselves right out of existence.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Exactly right. Exactly right. All right. So we're going to end it on this fun question. And I had to put this in here. And this is from Daniel. A ballpoint user is quickly approaching your house, unknown to you because you're doing the gardening. But Luke, the dog, can smell the threat drawing nearer. How does he warn you to get to safety?

'''Matt Armstrong:''' Is licking someone to death an option? Because that's probably about it.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So he is going to welcome the ballpoint fiend with open arms and just licking it up. As will I.

'''Matt Armstrong:''' Because anyone – I don't care if you're into ballpoints versus fountain pens. If you're a stationary nerd, you are my people. Right. You know, yeah, I focus mainly on fountain pens because that's what I like. But, you know, anyone who can get excited about pens and paper is just nerdy enough for me.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I couldn't say it better than that. Thank you, Matt, for joining us this week. This has been a blast. This was awesome. We could go on for another two hours knowing you and knowing the things that you're into and the stories we could tell. Well, we have shared some experiences and I can't wait to share my next experience with you. And I hope to see you soon. Yes, I'm sure I'll see you in Chicago. Yes, I'll be there. All right.

'''Myke Hurley:''' If you want to find our show notes for this week's episode, head on over to relay.fm slash penaddict slash 248. If you want to find Brad online, the place to go is penaddict.com. Or you can go to Dowdy as on Twitter, D-O-W-D-Y-I-S-M. And he's penaddict on Instagram. I am iMike, I-M-Y-K-E on both. If you want to find Matt, you can go to his website. You can go to penhabit.com. And he is at penhabit on Twitter as well. Thanks again to our lovely sponsors for this week's episode. The fine folk over at Pen Chalet Squarespace and Harry's. We'll be back next time. But we and Brad will anyway. But Matt, thank you so much for joining us. And thank you all for listening. Until next time, say goodbye, guys. Goodbye, guys.

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