Interview with Sándor Pethő and Máté Bikfalvi, the organizers of the I. Hungary Pen show.
November 11, 2023, is an important date for pen enthusiasts: on this day, the Lurdy House will host the first domestic exhibition and fair of writing instruments, inks, and papers. We spoke with Máté and Sanyi, the organizers of the I. Hungary Pen Show, in the lobby of an office building in Budapest about the event.
Csaba: How did the idea come about to bring the world of pen shows to Budapest?
Máté: We are both entrepreneurs: Sanyi is from PENDORS, and I am the creator and owner of the PENNONIA brand; we are connected not only by the profession but also by friendship. We have been closely following the world of pen shows held in various parts of the world for a long time. Recently, we participated as professional exhibitors at the Katowice Pen Show, where we gained a lot of experiences and insights.
These events are not just about writing instruments but also about connections: lovers of fountain pens, ballpoint pens, mechanical pencils, inks, and special papers gather for a couple of unforgettable days.
It has been on our minds for a long time: if pen shows are successful anywhere in the world, why don't we have such an event here? In March, we sat down and decided: we will definitely organize it in Hungary too!
Organizing an event of this size is undoubtedly a challenging task. Do you have event organizing experience?
SándorWe only have exhibitor experience; neither of us has organized an event of this type and scale before. The daily operational tasks take up a lot of time and energy, especially since we both run our own businesses. But we are thinking long-term: today, organizing takes a lot of work, but next year we will have more experience in it.
I always say: we are lucky guys because we have great people and a truly excellent community supporting us. If you will, the Hungary Pen Show is a grassroots initiative: although we are organizing it, we are not alone. The Pens&Clocks community on Facebook has many enthusiastic and knowledgeable „pen friends” who support us with a lot of advice and ideas.
Without community building, there is no pen show either: our goal is to create a series of events that brings together a lot of good people every year.
If I understand correctly, there is a sense of mission in this as well...
SándorUndeniably. Recently, a dear acquaintance of mine said that just as „A” Swiss watch is the Doxa at home, „The” writing instrument is the Parker pen – this shows that very few people know about the incredibly colorful selection of writing instruments and inks available in our country, not to mention the domestic handmade writing instrument industry. But just think about it: László Bíró and Andor Goy's invention, the ballpoint pen, started its world-conquering journey from here... We want as many people as possible to get to know the colorful world of writing instruments and to experience the joy of handwriting again.
The event is called a pen show. What does this mean exactly?
MátéThat's a good question; we have also thought a lot about what exactly fits within the framework of such an event. We considered naming it a fair, but this event will be much more than a traditional fair. On one hand, it is an opportunity for brand owners to showcase their products up close, which visitors can hold, try out – and of course, purchase. All this while getting answers to any questions they may have about the product.
On the other hand, alongside the large exhibitors, we emphasized that smaller manufacturers and workshops should also have the opportunity to present themselves. Among the visitors at international fairs, many are specifically hunting for microbrand products, as these are often available in small series or tailored to individual needs.
Will there only be new writing instruments at the exhibition?
Sándor: To our great joy, the vintage line is also represented at the event 😊 We are proud that Zoltán Kovács 2. a pen repairer and collector will also participate as an exhibitor at the I. Hungary Pen Show, and I may not be revealing a secret, but he will bring vintage pieces for sale as well. Zoli is a third-generation pen repairer, who is not only a well-known expert across Europe but also has a rare collection.
3. Good news for lovers of old writing instruments is that a well-known Tom Westerich 4. (penboard.de) will also participate as an exhibitor at the I. Hungary Pen Show. By the way, Tom will also be adjusting fountain pen nibs during the event, so we will have our own „Nib Master” with us – this is also a tradition characteristic of pen shows. It is worth bringing those fountain pens that the owner would like to have adjusted.
5. How many exhibitors will there be at the event?
Máté6. : So far, 22 have registered as exhibitors, and we are still waiting for more applicants. Mostly, there will be writing instrument manufacturers (e.g. Pentel7. ) and distributors (e.g. the8. ), but there will also be a good number of Hungarian and foreign small businesses and pen makers.
9. It is a special pleasure that the domestically designed Etelburg and the Capillaris 10. will also be among the exhibitors. There will also be exhibitors who come with thematic material: the The Shirokuma online store 11. owners are preparing with special Japanese papers, used and new fountain pens, and a surprise as well.
12. More about the exhibitors of the I. Hungary Pen Show 13. can be read on our website. 14. Apart from pens and inks, what else can we expect?.
15. : There will be "paper" exhibitors, such as
Máté16. Paperblanks 17. , or, 18. Binder’s notebooks 19. , who are essential participants in such an event anyway. In addition to various fountain pens and other writing tools, we are also preparing a huge selection of inks: Pennonia, for example, will represent its entire color palette., who are otherwise essential participants of such an event. In addition to various fountain pens and other writing instruments, we are also preparing a huge selection of inks: for example, Pennonia will be represented with its entire color palette.
1. We also thought of the lovers of calligraphy: there will be two workshops during the event, which will be Dezső Buzogány and 2. held by Dávid Salinger “Manoeye”.” 3. : We pay special attention to ensuring that exhibitors and visitors can talk to each other. The plans also include one or two presentations, the themes of which we are currently developing.
Sándor4. : Specifically timed for the I. Hungary Pen Show, a limited edition, unique.
Máté5. ink is being prepared, which the visitors of the event will encounter for the first time, so the color remains a secret… Pennonia 6. Are you very enthusiastic, do you trust in the success of the event?
7. : If we didn't believe in it, we wouldn't be doing it.
Máté: If we didn't believe in it, we wouldn't be doing it 😊 The recent period has been very active for us: reaching out to and engaging potential exhibitors is not an easy task for an event without a precedent. We took on the event alongside our own work, responsibilities, tasks, and lives out of enthusiasm and commitment.
10. : With the Hungary Pen Show, we want to build a brand and we are aware that there is still a long way ahead of us. It may also be that the event will only fully develop in three years. We are enthusiastic and committed, learning from everything.
Sándor11. You can read more about the Hungary Pen Show.
12. here! on the event's website and on its Facebook page you can read!
The event's professional partner is the Budapest Pen Show community magazine.
