| There was a time when virtually every promotional | | | | black. Will it change in time? Probably is the answer as |
| pen was supplied with blue refills as standard. That | | | | there is strong evidence that the younger generation |
| preference has changed gradually over the last ten | | | | prefer black refills to blue. However, blue is by far the |
| years and now the refill colour of choice is either blue | | | | most popular corporate colour when it comes to logo |
| or black. Why is this? Increasingly, public sector | | | | pens and many buyers still specify blue refills because |
| companies and organisations are turning to | | | | of this. The most popular shade of blue in company |
| promotional pens as a giveaways and consequently | | | | logos is very close to the colour of standard blue |
| are specifying black ink in preference to blue ink | | | | refills so it is unlikely they will disappear completely. |
| because many official documents require black | | | | The quality of ink used in pens these days is very |
| signatures as standard. | | | | high and is referred to as documental ink. You can |
| The primary reason why black is preferred to blue is | | | | now expect the same life from a black refill as a blue |
| because photocopiers can see black print or writing | | | | one but this has not always been the case. In recent |
| much easier than blue and rather than compromise | | | | years there has been significant developments in ink |
| official documents public sector organisations stipulate | | | | technology and much greater compatibility between |
| this colour when they order personalised pens. This | | | | the pigment and the solvent in black refills and we |
| has given many pen wholesalers a huge headache as | | | | should now expect similar longevity to blue. As an |
| they need to carry the same pen lines in both black | | | | aside, it is worth mentioning that some colours such |
| and blue ink, whereas previously blue was sufficient. | | | | as red and green tend to dry out quicker and |
| This has meant twice the stock levels as previous | | | | consequently stockists are very careful about stock |
| for the same levels of sales. Why do some buyers | | | | rotation in case they are left with shelves full of |
| prefer blue? Well many of us grew up with blue ink | | | | personalised pens that cannot write. Whatever your |
| fountain pens and we carried on with blue inked biros | | | | choice of colour you can be sure that there is no |
| as a matter of habit. That is the main reason and | | | | better value for money than the humble promotional |
| about 50% of us still prefer blue in preference to | | | | pen and long may it continue. |