What I Did on my Fall Vacation

by Alan Gross

One of the great pleasures in designing and producing limited edition pens is the opportunity to meet the people who turn our designs into a reality. As principals of Pens Plus, my wife Lillian and I have been offering limited editions made by the Stipula pen company since 2005. So last year, on a sunny day in early September, we boarded a high-speed train from Rome to Florence to meet the people with whom we’d been working so closely. Stipula resides just a few minutes outside of downtown in a modern-looking business complex that contrasts sharply with the ancient architecture of the city center. We were met at the door by Raffaella Crocchini, the director of marketing and sales, who took us on a guided tour of the factory. The manufactory, general offices and shipping department are on the first floor of the two-story building, while the archives and VIP offices are on the second.

Stipula was founded in 1973 by Renzo Salvadori, whom we had the pleasure of meeting on our tour of the manufactory. Although now retired, Salvadori still gets involved in some of the new design work, as does his son-in-law Luca Viti, Stipula’s chairman and managing director. The company originally produced gold and silver clasps and ornamental fittings for many of Europe’s prestigious leather firms, so superior quality was a serious commitment for the company from the very beginning. In 1982 it began producing pens for other companies, and in 1991, it introduced its own line under the brand name Stipula. As of last fall, Stipula pens are distributed in the United States. by Retro 51, the Texas-based company that also produces and distributes its own line of pens and accessories.
In meeting and speaking with many of the employees, it became obvious to Lillian and me that Stipula’s greatest assets are its employees. They all take special pride in what they do because they know that they are carrying on the legacy of a company where tradition and superior quality mean everything. Imagine my pleasure in meeting Edi Meozzi from the sales office, the woman who has answered my phone calls for over five years, as well as Roberto Villani, who heads production and is one of the company’s chief problem solvers. Due to the company’s early years in the ornamental fittings business, Stipula has collaborated with many of Florence’s leading goldsmiths and artisans, including sculptor Paolo Cerrini and miniature artist Franco Chiesi. For this reason, many of the pen designs reflect the rich heritage of Florence. This is certainly evident in the well-known Academia line.