Pen sets still among most popular retirement gifts in the US

Over recent months, there has been plenty of media attention on “peak 65,” with record numbers of baby boomers hitting retirement age in the US. More than four million Americans retire every year, meaning practically everyone knows at least one person who will retire in the next year or two. Choosing a retirement gift demands thought, as this is one of life’s most important events. Despite the so-called paper free age, a pen set is still a gift that is personal, practical and appreciated.

Adding the personal touch to a pen gift

The personal touch is particularly important to US employers and retirees. A personalized pen gift can be engraved with either the recipient’s name or a few words about the occasion of his or her retirement. Employers giving a pen set as a retirement gift to a valued employee should consider engraving the gift with some words of appreciation and gratitude, and perhaps mentioning how many years he or she worked for the company. For example:

Recipient Name

For __ years of loyalty

Happy retirement – we will miss you!

Company Name

Most companies that offer an engraving service can accommodate your choice of font, and some can even add your company logo, so you can keep the gift on-brand. The type of pen gift you choose will dictate the amount of text you can fit on it. Keep this in mind when deciding whether to choose a single pen, a boxed pen gift or a larger writing set.

Consider the type of pen to be gifted

If your idea of a commemorative pen set comprises an old-fashioned fountain pen and ink, think again. Research has shown that use of fountain pens is in terminal decline, and it makes sense to give a retirement gift that will be used and not just displayed as an ornament.

The main alternatives are ballpoint pens and rollerballs. Ballpoints are the most common, and use the same basic technology as everyday disposable pens. However, a high-quality ballpoint contains an internal ink delivery system that can be replaced when it runs dry. The main benefit of a ballpoint is that the ink dries almost instantly, so there is very little risk of smudging. However, it can feel a little scratchy compared with a rollerball.

Rollerball pens use a liquid or gel type ink that is less viscous than a ballpoint, and therefore a little more runny. The ink delivery means thicker script, so a rollerball is ideal for formal writing, or when the writer wants his or her calligraphy style to show through – for example when writing a greeting card or invitation. Rollerballs also demand less pressure, so are a good choice as a gift when the recipient is prone to hand cramps or has arthritic fingers.

The downside to rollerballs is that the ink can dry out if the pen is left uncapped, and it this type of pen is likely to need to be refilled more often. Also, keep in mind that rollerball ink takes a few seconds to dry on the page. Left-handed writers sometimes find rollerballs more problematic than ballpoint pens, as the former is more likely to get smudged by the side of the hand. So ballpoints are often a better choice of the recipient writes left-handed, as the ink dries very quickly on the paper.

Popular pen gift ideas for retirement

When you have decided on the style of pen, you need to choose the way it will be presented as a gift. Consider the following two options:

• A boxed pen set comprises a high-quality ball pen that can be personalized with the engraved message that you wish. This comes in a wooden case, which can also be personalized, and you can choose from different types of wood including bamboo, rosewood and maple.
• Personalized wood pens are an increasingly popular choice in an age when sustainability is top of everyone’s mind. The decline in popularity of fountain pens has driven a greater choice in high quality ball pens, and wood pens are a perfect example of this principle in action.

A calligraphy set is worth considering for those traditionalists who still know how to use a fountain pen. This has become quite a specialist area, and is really a separate topic in its own right, but sets typically comprise pen, nibs, ink, blotting paper and so on. However, approach this option with caution. Retirement is such an important milestone, it should be commemorated with a gift that is practical as well as memorable.