We live in a technology-driven world. We can glance at our watches and text our friends that we’re running late to dinner because our Uber (which we ordered from our phone) is stuck in traffic. There’s no denying that we love convenience, but there’s still a bit of resistance. For all of the electric razors that exist, there are a million dudes who want to shave with straight razors that come in wooden boxes.
And now, for all of the fancy writing instruments, like mechanical pencils, plenty of people are still drawn to old-fashioned wooden pencils. According to CBS, Faber-Castell, one of the oldest pencil manufacturers in the world, had its best year ever last year.
CBS interviewed a few people about why they choose good ol’ wooden pencils over some mechanical pencils. Some cited the ability to write in fine lines and sharpen the point to perfection, which comes in handy for projects, like woodworking. Others cited the tangibility of a wooden pencil versus a stylus on a touch screen. Some said it’s just plain nostalgia that makes them want to keep using wooden pencils.
“They’re craving the feeling of doing something by hand,” one interviewee told CBS. “And though it may not be a necessity anymore, it’s a very welcome novelty.”
Another trend with nostalgic roots could be a cause for this as well. If you recall, adult coloring books have been gaining popularity for quite some time now. And with the desire to color comes the need for something to use.
“There’s a reason why pencils have existed for so many hundreds of years,” another interviewee told CBS. “Because there’s a need for them, and there always will be in some capacity.”
So, for promotional products distributors, it could be beneficial to look toward the classics rather than just the hot new trends in writing instruments.
