One important part of the supply chain is the distributor. Distributors connect manufacturers and consumers, helping move products to the market. They manage inventory, take care of logistics like storage and transport, and build relationships with retailers. This allows manufacturers to reach more customers without the hassle and expense of direct distribution. By combining orders from several retailers, distributors can achieve economies of scale in transportation and logistics, thereby reducing costs for manufacturers. In short, distributors help consumers access many products more easily. Pelikan has always depended on regional distributors to deliver its products, but a new competitor has disrupted the North American market, replacing Chartpak in Canada. With the change comes hope that the long held concerns of Canadians might finally be addressed. Read on to find out more about your North American distributors and how this change may impact you.

North America has seen several distributors of the Pelikan brand since the launch of the M400. Pelikan, Inc. was the brand’s first distributor, lasting nearly a decade starting in 1982. After that, Anthes Universal briefly took over in 1992, followed by SRW Marketing in 1996. In 2001, Chartpak, Inc. became Pelikan’s distributor in North America, a role which it has served for the past 23 years, making it the longest tenured of Pelikan’s North American partners. Founded in 1949, Chartpak started as a graphics supply manufacturer, providing visual aid materials to businesses. Their portfolio, currently encompasses 19 different brands focusing heavily on the design, drafting, and engineering industries. In addition to distribution, Chartpak also handles warranty and repair claims. As of July 1st, European Manufacturing and Design Ltd, part of the LSF group, has become the exclusive Canadian distributor for Pelikan, while Chartpak remains Pelikan’s distributor for the rest of North America. Canadians may have a new distributor, but nothing changes for those of us residing in the United States. It should also be noted that Chartpak continues to distribute their 18 other brands within Canada.

Chartpak distributes a large portfolio of brands

In trying to understand what might have prompted this restructuring, I reached out to some Canadian fountain pen fans. As it turns out, they aren’t at all surprised by the recent changes. There’s long been a feeling that the concerns of Canadian consumers were being ignored. The main issue has been the inflated retail prices found in Canada. One explanation for this might be that when goods ship from Germany to Canada, they are subject to a one time duty fee. Pens that are shipped from Germany to the USA and then to Canada incur two separate duty fees, inevitably raising costs. International shipping for repairs has also added to the expense of owning a Pelikan, further compounded by fees from banks and credit card vendors due to the currency exchange. This has made buying Pelikan pens and their subsequent repairs, even when under warranty, a costly proposition for Canadians. Like many in the USA, they are often forced to shop overseas to benefit from the better prices found in Europe. Perhaps it was this dissatisfaction that the LSF group seized upon in order to supplant Chartpak.

European Manufacturing and Design Ltd is part of the LSF Group based in Woodbridge, Ontario. Since 1993, the LSF group has been involved in the Canadian distribution of products from brands such as LAMY, Faber-Castell, Visconti, Diplomat, Monteverde, Platinum, and Octopus inks. European Manufacturing has enlisted 17 authorized Pelikan dealers country wide for whom they will be offering strong market support in an effort to highlight the brand. These 17 dealers represent approximately 22 points of sale nationwide, each carrying at least 25 fine writing products. Each of Canada’s five distinct regions is reported to be well served, with products shipping from a Toronto based warehouse. The company is also offering an in-house repair service for Canadian customers. Furthermore, they recently launched an official Pelikan Shop Canada e-commerce site for writing instruments and direct sales, delivering only within Canada to verified addresses. European Manufacturing believes that having the Canadian market served in country will benefit their authorized retailers thanks to the closer support which should, in turn, benefit consumers. Whether or not this change will be a positive one for our neighbors up north remains to be seen.

Unfortunately, Canadians might not see much in the way of improved retail pricing anytime soon despite the change in distributor. Canada’s Pelikan pen pricing is often higher than what we are accustomed to in the USA. A Black/Green M800 in Canada, for instance, cost $1,160 CAD (~$826.77 USD). The same pen retails for $672 USD (~$942.85 CAD) in the USA. When you factor in exchange fees, shipping, and customs, Canadian pricing is roughly on par with what the typical Canadian would pay when shopping from a US retailer. Where Canadians will likely benefit most is from having their own domestic repair service. Anyone looking for information regarding warranty claims and repairs in Canada is asked to contact the store via email at pelikanpenshopcanada@outlook.com or via phone at 905-856-8484. A special thanks to Nicholas Curcumelli-Rodostamo for bringing this issue to my attention.