This coming weekend, we’ll be attending the 2026 D.C. Pen Show, one of the largest and longest-running pen shows in the world. In addition to the opportunity to shop with makers and retailers in person who you usually would only get to visit online, pen shows have increasingly become more like traditional conventions or “cons”, hosting seminars, classes, and other informational events. These days, I usually forgo a traditional show setup in favor of a reduced table and more ability to roam the show floor, choosing a reduced table setup in favor of more flexibility to teach classes and seminars and visit with customers, brands and distributors. This weekend, T.G.S. will be setup with Vanness Pens in our usual spot up front, near Pilot and Matthew Chen. We will be bringing Roterfaden, OnionBrand, Lochby, and of course select pens and paper. I will also be teaching a course on Notebook Systems on Friday and Saturday in the Vanness Pen Lounge downstairs.
Yes, we are almost packed. With two hours to go before departure!
If you’re attending your first pen show, we maintain a lot of back content that addresses tips for how to prepare for and attend a pen show. I generally link back to a series of “Pen Show Primer” articles I’ve written including Volume 1: Why Visit a Pen Show; Volume 2: Getting Ready for a Pen Show; and Volume 3: Tips for Surviving the Pen Show. While these particular articles have some age on them, I stand by pretty much all of the advice. (You’ll also note that “get a good pen show bag” has remained consistently high on the list of tips for a positive pen show experience, along with “take breaks” if you can.) For those looking for information on nib grinds, earlier this year I did a YouTube video walking through a nib grind I had done by Matthew Chen at this year’s Arkansas Pen Show.
What To Expect This Weekend with T.G.S. - Nashville Shop and Shipping (SPecial promotion)
Online orders placed before noon (12PM CT) will likely ship today (Wednesday - 8/5). Orders placed between Weds and Friday will have a 3-5 business day shipping window, instead of our normal 2-3 business day ship time. To accommodate for any delay, all orders placed between Wednesday and Sunday (8/5-8/9) will receive a special freebie (an ink sample, free pencils, etc.). Many thanks for supporting us while we are off growing the business!
The Nashville Store will be open normal hours Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, and with slightly reduced hours on Saturday from 10am-4pm.