What is the Best Design?

[BigguyZ]

OK, so I've been sucked into the hobby of pen turning, and because I can't use 30 pens I've decided to turn it into a small side business. I've already sold a bunch of 'em, but I'm trying to build up an inventory that I can go to stores with to try to get them to carry the pens.

Anyways, one of the most popular- and I think easiest to turn- pens is the Cigar Pen. Now typically most of them look the same, or at least very similar. I've developed a design that I think looks sleeker than the standard shape, but I'm not sure if I want to make the majority of my pens in that style. It just may be the case that the tried-and-true form is the most market-able. So, please vote as to which you think aesthetically is the nicer looking pen. Please do not consider the material/ color, only the shape/ form of the pen itself. Also, do you think I should make primarily 1 "type" of cigar pen, or should I maybe split the styles 50/50 or some other ratio?

The pictures have a Letter assigned to them, which will correspond to the poll choices. Choice A is my design, which I think is different than the other designs I've seen for cigar pens. Choice B is a more teardrop shape, and choice C is a the beefy shape I've seen a lot of cigars take (although I need to re-turn it and get the edges closer to the right thickness...).

Thank you all for your feedback!

[tekton]

I voted for a because it looks slimer, but I would actualy have to hold the pens to decide wich one I liked best. Why not make all three along with other designs so people can choose the one that fits their hand the best? Good job though they all look great.

[ragswl4]

I selected Pen A but all three look very nice to me. While I am no pen expert I have looked at custom pens and the type of wood that is used catches my eye long before the shape does. I am not a marketeer either so don't pay too much attention to my rambllings. Best of luck with the business.

[Ken Massingale]

Based on my sales for the last couple of years, I'll repeat what I have suggested before. Over a period of time it has become clear that most buyers prefer a 'sleek' style without a lot of beads or coves. This may be due to the clients that frequent the shops that carry my items. Occassionally a wasp shape sells but it is infrequent.
As for the Cigar, it's a hefty pen even when turned smooth bushing to bushing. I don't know of any that have been purchased by ladies for their own use. In this area, including residents of a college town, the ladies prefer a smaller style like an American, Slimline and especially the Polaris/Partiot. Also the ladies are preferring Acrylic over wood by a larger margin, and most pens are purchased by women, not men, in shops anyway. Consider a couple of fountain pens also, the ladies still write letters and like those.
I do wish you a lot of success but have no doubt that you will see that a good variety is essential to success.

[Ed62]

I didn't vote because they all look great to me. I'd have to actually have one in my hand before I made a decision.

Ed

[BigguyZ]

Based on my sales for the last couple of years, I'll repeat what I have suggested before. Over a period of time it has become clear that most buyers prefer a 'sleek' style without a lot of beads or coves. This may be due to the clients that frequent the shops that carry my items. Occassionally a wasp shape sells but it is infrequent.
As for the Cigar, it's a hefty pen even when turned smooth bushing to bushing. I don't know of any that have been purchased by ladies for their own use. In this area, including residents of a college town, the ladies prefer a smaller style like an American, Slimline and especially the Polaris/Partiot. Also the ladies are preferring Acrylic over wood by a larger margin, and most pens are purchased by women, not men, in shops anyway. Consider a couple of fountain pens also, the ladies still write letters and like those.
I do wish you a lot of success but have no doubt that you will see that a good variety is essential to success.

I've actually had two women buy the Type A cigar. Maybe because it's smaller than the bulkier way some cigars are made. But you're right about one thing- the two cigars I sold to women were acrylics!

I'm slowly getting into different kits, but I want to keep the number of styles down to around 6 or 7. I figure that way I don't end up with 4 pen types that don't sell as well as the staples. So far I can make slimlines, cigars, atlas pens, cusion grips, Classic Americans, and I think I'll move into doing Classic Americans in fountain pens, and then something really big like the Churchill, El Grande, or Baron pen. But since I have a lot of blanks, and all of the supplies to do cigars easily, that's what I'm been turning most. I'd rather not have 2 or 3 types of cigar pens- again because it's segment my stock too much. Or do you think it really doesn't matter?

[Anna]

I voted for B, which to me looks sleeker and has a more classic look. And if I'm buying one, it will be for my husband anyway, who tends to like clean lines.

Maybe you should compare the different designs using the same wood?

[final_t]

All look great, but to me, what makes a great pen is how it feels in my hand. I have cut and sold quite a few that I personally don't like but the clients just loved.
If you're planning on making more of these to show off, I would suggest making up a nice collection of the various styles in various woods and trot them around in a fold-out case - this works wonders for me. For the pen connoisseur, fountain pens are awesome and can easily command a 10-15% premium. YMMV.

[gerti]

I like the bottom of B the best. As for the top, I'd like to see a blend between A and B. A's top looks unbalanced with respect to it's bottom. And B's top looks a bit to heavy.

[BigguyZ]

I like the bottom of B the best. As for the top, I'd like to see a blend between A and B. A's top looks unbalanced with respect to it's bottom. And B's top looks a bit to heavy.

Here's a pic of a more recent version of A, with a larger top to make it a bit more balanced.

[footprintsinconc]

Its hard to tell which is better without acutally handling it with my hands. so if your're intersted i can send you my address ....

[guycox]

I don't like pens that have "negative" space -- it make me think that there was a horrible catch and the evidence was turned away..

I've gotten away form putting exaggerated waists on slimlines. If I want a heftier pen from a slimline kit, I'll throw the center band away and replace it with a piece of Corian or a contrasting wood.

I've developed an easy technique for lapping the joint between the top and bottom barrels so that it's almost invisible. I'll post the pix when I get back on line in about 2 weeks...