Editing The Pen Addict 206/transcript (section)

== UK Pen Scene ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' So let's talk about the pen scene, Myke and Tessa. So I feel when I read your blog, Tessa, that it's really, really UK focused. And I love getting that perspective where Myke, on the other hand, when I talk to Myke, it's like Myke kind of sees it through my eyes a little bit through the podcast. Cause I'm talking about this, this us focus. Do you feel, is that like a conscious thing that, um, the, the way you write and the things you present, present Tessa, do you think?

'''Tessa Sowry:''' No.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah.

'''Tessa Sowry:''' I think I just write about what I know and yeah. Inevitably that's what's going on sort of, yeah. In the UK and London, especially, I guess.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah. See, I do feel way more, uh, on the US scene of stuff really, because the majority of input that I have comes from Brad, hence why I don't know the good stores in my own city because I never really look for them. I am very focused on what's happening in the US. I'm buying pens from the US, you know, wherever the brands that are getting popular over there and that kind of stuff. And it's completely because I do this show every week. So I'm, I'm, I'm completely tainted. And this was something that I realized when we met for the first time of a couple of months ago or a few weeks ago, whenever it was that you were telling me about all of these places and I just had no idea about any of them.

'''Tessa Sowry:''' Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. So I, it's, um, it's a really good perspective for me to read. I learned like so many different companies, different brands, um, that you, that you write about Tessa. And a lot of it seems to come from this national stationary week. That's kind of a big deal in, in London, right? I mean, tell me, tell me about being involved and going to that and what that's all about. Because while we have like a national stationary show here in the US, it's really doesn't seem to be that open or that, you know, that much in like the, uh, in the fabric of the community. Um, but in London and in the UK, it seems like national stationary week, they do a really good job of getting like bloggers involved on social media. So tell us, tell us a little bit about that.

'''Tessa Sowry:''' Yeah. Um, I mean, the, the, so there is the London stationary show, which happens every year in, um, in what is also national stationary week. Um, it is essentially a trade show, but I think, I think the, I guess the PR company that work with, um, well sort of create and work with national stationary week, understand the impact of bloggers, which is really refreshing. Um, and I think that sort of brought a lot of other companies in. Um, so they're kind of coming to bloggers and asking us to feature their products and, um, encouraging bloggers to go to the show, even though it is trade. Um, I mean, the first year I went, I think I still had to explain to a few old school people what a blog is.

'''Tessa Sowry:''' Um, but yeah, I, I can, even over the last couple of years, I can kind of, I can see the, the change, um, in attitude. Um, so I, yeah, I mean, I, it is, it is a big thing I think in the UK, but I, I do think it's kind of, it's brands pushing it rather than sort of everyday people. But yeah, I, I think it's a good thing that, that once a year, everyone kind of has their moment, whether they're in the community or not to kind of shout about why they love stationary. So, yeah. And I, I tried to make a big thing of it on my blog and sort of post every day that week.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' And I've noticed that and you and, uh, Adam from the desk of Adam that we're going to have on in a couple of weeks, uh, on the podcast as well, you know, y'all get together, other bloggers get together. They do a really good job of bringing everyone together and promoting it. And I just think it's a really, really good thing.

'''Tessa Sowry:''' Yeah, it was really great. I, I missed Adam this year actually, cause he kind of got there after I left, but it was, yeah, it was really great to meet him last year and, um, kind of have someone in the same boat going, well, what are we doing here? This is weird.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, for sure. You always like to have that, that support system close by. What, um, what kind of brands are you seeing in the UK that are really kind of UK based? Do you find like to have some very, very specific things that you don't see being talked about, um, in from, you know, from other blogs, uh, around the world that, um, you feel are really, really good, um, makers in the, in the UK?

'''Tessa Sowry:''' In a weird way. I think I'm never even like that super aware of, of where brands come from. That's terrible, isn't it? But I think.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Actually, I think that's good.

'''Tessa Sowry:''' Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I know that, um, there are, um, pen brands like Ajoto. You've tried one of theirs, haven't you, Brad?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yes.

'''Tessa Sowry:''' Um, I saw those guys at a design show a couple of years ago.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' They're, they're really, really nice guys. Really good to work with. Um, make really, really good products. So that, like if I, if I came over there, uh, one of these days to visit you guys, like I, I would definitely want to meet up with the Ajoto guys.

'''Tessa Sowry:''' Yeah, cool.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' They're super cool.