The Bengaluru-based company made history earlier this month, when it acquired Sheaffer, a 110-year-old iconic American luxury writing instruments company
Bangalore: When 24-year-old Nikhil Ranjan launched a retail store for high-end stationery in Bengaluru 20 years ago, little did he know that it was the beginning of an epic journey. William Penn has been instrumental in bringing some of the most renowned global brands, such as Mont Blanc, Cross, Sheaffer, Waterman and Sailor, under one roof for the Indian customer.
Today, it is a leading Indian multi-brand outfit specialising in fine writing instruments and accessories. The Bengaluru-based company made history earlier this month, when it acquired Sheaffer, a 110-year-old iconic American luxury writing instruments company.
“Being entrusted with a brand like Sheaffer, whose rich legacy dates back over a century, is both a huge responsibility and an opportunity that we are very excited about,” says Ranjan, the Founder and Managing Director of William Penn.
As Sheaffer’s exclusive distributor in India for the last 19 years, the company gained invaluable insight into the brand’s strengths and weaknesses. “Acquiring the brand was a natural fit as it perfectly aligns with our values and vision,” notes the software engineer-turned entrepreneur.
Bigger role on the global stage
With Sheaffer onboard, William Penn is now looking at playing a bigger role on the global stage. The strategy is to give due consideration to the preferences and tastes of Indian customers, while also factoring in global needs during the product development of new Sheaffer models and lines.
“ We will mostly be concentrating on fountain pens and the new products will draw inspiration from past collections and the brand’s legacy. Sheaffer has been known for its inlaid nibs and iconic designs, and we will be drawing on the brand’s heritage to add those special details that Sheaffer is known and appreciated for,” says Ranjan.
Back in 2016, when William Penn acquired the British brand Lapis Bard, it expanded its product range from writing instruments to men’s accessories and lifestyle products, such as wallets, belts, organisers, desk lights and other premium accessories.
Currently, William Penn has 20+ stores across India, including retail outlets at key airports. The in-house collection of luxury products are also available online on the William Penn website, as well as on leading e-comm portals.
No writing on the wall
As far as the impact of internet penetration and digital disruption on the writing instruments segment is concerned, William Penn is unperturbed. The issue has been deliberated on since the arrival of smartphones and the company believes that today it is an established fact that writing is here to stay.
“Writing is no longer just about communicating; it’s about journaling, taking notes in a meeting, and so much more. We’ve seen that there is an essential analogue aspect in the digital world, no matter the technology or platform du jour,” says Ranjan. For example, many regard pen and paper as essential companions during Zoom meetings, just as they were during Skype and traditional teleconferences. “The future is going to be a combination of digital and analogue,” he notes.
As the first Indian brand to organise the traditionally unorganised stationery and writing instruments market in the country, William Penn is confident, and looking optimistically at the future. “India has always been a very large and important market for fine writing instruments. We have a young population and as more and more young people start working and writing, they will aspire to own quality writing instruments,” maintains Ranjan, who adds that “as disposable incomes and literacy rates increase, the appetite for fine writing instruments also increases”.
