Local retailer Truphae offers splurge-worthy fountain pens.
Should a writing tool be as unique as the handwriting of the person who’s wielding it? Truphae certainly thinks so. The Greenville-based company sells high-end fountain pens that dazzle, not just in aesthetics but also in performance. Carrying pens from 60-80 of the world’s top brands, Truphae caters to anyone and everyone who wants to take their writing experience to the next level.
“A fountain pen is good because you don’t have to push down, and it’s a lot less fatiguing on your hands,” says Chris Henline, Truphae’s founder. “It’s a little more individual, too—it feels more like your expression than a ballpoint pen because you’re more connected to what you’re writing.”
According to Henline, Truphae’s customer base runs the gamut, from novices who are just discovering the joys of smooth penmanship to collectors who buy and trade high-end pens for both hobby and investment purposes. Fountain pens also appeal to those who write a lot for work, such as lawyers and administrative assistants. And of course, they make for excellent gifts, especially for auspicious occasions like graduations, promotions, and retirement.
Options Abound at Truphae
Fountain pens span an incredibly wide price range, and they tend to vary by brand. But it’s not just the cost of materials that determines value.
“A lot of the price is determined by how much time was taken in the quality control process,” Henline says. “Montblanc, for example, makes very expensive pens, but we’ve never had one returned—they take a lot of time in production making sure it’s going to be perfect forever.”
For collectors, it’s the craftsmanship of the pens that merit the luxurious price tag. Within this niche market, specialty fountain pens are usually produced painstakingly by hand, resulting in intensely intricate designs.
When picking a pen, there are a lot of exciting options to consider. Besides the plethora of brands to choose from, there are also different finishes, ink deliveries, and nib sizes to choose from. Most pens come with ink cartridges, but Truphae also sells inkwells for a more traditional approach. Customers are welcome to stop by the brick and mortar store and test out different pens for themselves and find the perfect fit.
Truphae Inc., 550 S Main St., Ste 200, Greenville. 828.467.0224, truphaeinc.com
