California Pen Show 2024

I was lucky enough to attend the California Pen Show this year, working once again with my good friends at Kanilea Pen Company.

The show was… different. It’s a new show, and our first time there, and many people said the show has been getting better. But from my perspective, it didn’t feel much like a normal pen show. For one, many of the attendees were non-pen community people who seemingly just wandered in to see what all the fuss was about, almost as if there was nothing else to do. The hotel was beautiful, I will give it that much, and sales were average for us, but many vendors stated the same sentiment - there weren’t many buyers walking the floor.

As for the city - not a fan. I’ve been to a lot of big cities, but for whatever reason, Los Angeles just felt “dirty”. We went out a couple times, and every time I felt I needed a shower as soon as we got back to the hotel. Maybe that’s why my opinion of the show wasn’t the best, who knows. As such, I didn’t take many pictures of the show itself, just a few goofy pics with the local pen club’s mascot. But the shoreline was beautiful…

Not sure if I/we will return next year or not, but if I/we do, then maybe my opinion will change. One can only hope.

Remember to always Spin the Compass.