Editing The Pen Addict 339/transcript (section)

== Blackwing Discussion ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' Right. Right. All right. Let's move on to black wing because they're not quite there yet. They are really dang good. I love them. Like I just, I think they do really, really great work and they're on the cusp of like what retro 51 and field notes is doing with like these regular custom special editions. I think they need to get their stories across better. I don't know exactly how to explain that, but it's like some of their stories with the products are super compelling and interesting. Like this last one with the Mars one. It's just very interesting. Now you can tell the story of this product where, you know, I'm unfairly crapping on the previous edition, which I didn't think told anything. Like it was uninteresting across the board. So the 33 and a third. So it's like, they're really good at storytelling. They're exceptional at product making. And I want a year in 2019 that field notes had in 2018 for black wing. Cause I think they can do it. Like I have full faith in them.

'''Myke Hurley:''' But they are still early on in this process. Pretty much. A couple of years at this point. Is it even? A couple of years? It's, I want to say it's three. I think we've done three. I mean, I think that they're still turning out majorly good stuff, right? Like by and large they are. But yes, it would be, of course, wonderful to see them nail it across the board for one whole year.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Cause if there's any company I believe can do it, I think they can do it. Like they have some.

'''Myke Hurley:''' They have had some real stinkers this year.

'''Myke Hurley:''' They have. They have.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So like, I think, I think black wing, I think they're playing it safe. And I think I'm ready for them to push the envelope a little bit. And this is a wooden pencil. How much envelope pushing can you do? Right. And that's the struggle. I don't know. Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' But how much can you do with a paper notebook? I know. They're all like inherently simple products. But, you know, story, color, texture, core. Like that's the exact same things that the field notes have, right? Yes. Story, color, texture, paper. That's all it is. It's just those four things. But they execute them. Right. And like, you know, like, because I'm not so tied to the black wing as everybody else. Why don't you make it a different shape?

'''Myke Hurley:''' There's literally nothing stopping you. You make the pencil. If you want to make this one round, right? Like completely smooth. I know it would probably drive everyone bonkers. But like, let's go for it.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' They've done it. They've done it. And it did. And that's okay. Like, that's okay. You know, it's okay to take some risks. I think so. I put in here the Tahoe edition. I forget the number of it. But it's the one where they did like the raised topographical lake map. Like, just the finish on that barrel was awesome. It's like, do more of that stuff. You know, give me those type of features. One random non-subscription thing I want to see them do. I want them to make a set of pencils. I want them to make a set of pencils in all of their cores in one package. Whether that's five cores or whatever. The only hang up, I think, in the past is those are all separate product lines for them. So, other companies that do these core sets of 5, 10, 20 different core grades, they all have like the same artwork and same paint job and same style. Like, black wings are purposefully made like individually. I think they could benefit from a five pack of all the cores that they offer or whatever that number is. So, I would like to see that, you know, where someone can say, you know, let me try one of each of the 602, the MMX, the Extra Firm, the Pearl in one set of pencils. Like, I think that would be just kind of a neat thing to have. So, hopefully, we'll see that. And I think that's kind of your gateway into the brand, too. So, I think that might be helpful instead of people having to decide, well, what's the right one for me? Here's a core sampler pack. I think that would be nice.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' All right. Turning the corner back to the big brands. Lamy. Yes. It was a... Number one, hire me. Like, I'm not going to let that go. Like, I can fix it all, Lamy. Just hire me. I'll start learning German. Just let me know. Das ist gut. Yeah. I thought it was a little boring. A little boring of a year. Oh, hang on. All right. I'm going to do a quick roundabout here. Back to the Blackwing. There is a starting point set. There is a starting point set for Blackwing. So, I stand corrected. I didn't even see that. But it doesn't have the firm and this is too much. I don't need three. I don't need the three, you know, pen tips and things like that. So, this is close. Like, this is what I want to see from Blackwing.

'''Myke Hurley:''' It's only $35, though. I mean... Yeah. That is not an expensive set.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Well, they sold those pen cover... Pencil covers for like $10 each when they first came out. The point guards. So, that's pretty much all the money tied up in there. So, I think you could get a small set of... Like, if they're going to keep throwing out this extra fine core... I mean, extra firm core. They need to add it to the regular lineup. Because they keep mixing it into volumes. And it's just making people mad they can't get it regularly. So, good. Thank you, Tony, for sending that link. We'll put that in the show notes for those who are interested in trying all the sets. So, yeah. Okay. Good. That's good. That makes me happy. But I think it'd be done a little bit differently. Don't give me all the stuff. Um, Lamy had a bit of a boring year. Like, we've been harsh on them for a while. It wasn't as bad as it could have been. I think seeing their proliferation. Whether you think that's good or bad in retail spaces. Um, I kind of like just from a bigger picture. What can they do for us pen addicts that's non, you know, retail? Or is that those retail environments going to give them the influx of recognition and sales to be able to do more things? I don't know. We'll see. But I just thought it was kind of a boring year for Lamy. You know, the limited editions weren't that great. Um, you know, the new pens. I guess the Ion was new this year. I guess it was late last year. But it really kind of came on this year. It's just kind of, it's, I enjoy it. But it's just kind of boring. You know, black and silver. It's like, eh, it was, Lamy was there. You know? It's like, I just think they could do so much more. Like, this is a, such a huge, well-respected worldwide brand. I want more because I like them, right? Like, I'm, it's like, it's your heart is on the ones you love, right? And I love Lamy. And I've been harsh on them for a while now. And I just think it could be better. So, the one thing I want to see for 2019, I want the Vista in all the colors. This is as big a no-brainer as we have on this entire document list. The Lamy Vista needs a minimum of six barrel colors. Yesterday. I don't know why that's not a thing.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Is this remaining clear with colors?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. Translucent colors. Yeah, okay. Purple, green, red, blue, pink. Yesterday. I don't know why this is not a thing. They've made other pens. They made the Lamy Balloon, which was one of my favorite styled rollerball pens that had a terrible refill in a translucent blue. And it was beautiful. It was beautiful. I don't know why the Vista does not have the experimentation that the Safari and the All-Star have. I don't get it. I, this, I, why aren't, why don't I have a color of the year in the Vista? Or, you know, whatever limited edition. They are, I just think they're losing out. Like, I'll still buy my Safaris and then I'll add in a purple translucent Vista. Like, that needs to be a thing. Yesterday. It's gotta happen. That's the, that's my... Man, I do not remember the Lamy Balloon. It's a great pen. But it had a terrible refill. It was a super proprietary refill. And it wrote awful. But the barrel is killer.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I agree with that, actually. I never would have thought that to make, to make the Vista in some colors. But that totally works.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. I mean, it's the same price. It's in that price point of their other entry-level pens. And they make all those other ones in all these million different colors. They have experience doing it. And I don't know. It's the most no-brainer thing I want to see on this entire sheet. Mm-hmm. So.

'''Myke Hurley:''' All right. Should we take a break?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Like, penaddict.com slash contact. You can get me hello at penaddict.com. I'm open. Lamy. Call me.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Well, you've just given them all the ideas for free.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I mean, they need someone in there yelling at them to do it, I guess. I don't know what it is.

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