What I did on My Vacation: A visit to Stipula - 05.24.2010

What I did on My Vacation: A Visit to Stipula
by Allen 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 produced 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 the tour.  Although now retired, Salvadori still gets involved in some of the new design work, as does his son-in-law Luca Viti (pictured), 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 from the very beginning.  In 1982 the company began producing pens for other companies, and in 1991, it introduced its own line under the trademarked name of Stipula.  As of last fall, the brand is distributed in the U.S. by Retro 51, the Texas-based company that also produces and distributes its own line of pens and accessories.

Many of Stipula's dedicated employees have been with the firm over twenty years.  Being relatively small, with only nine employees in the production department, it became important for the company to define early on its place in the writing instrument industry.  It was decided to keep as much of its pen production in house, including many of the smaller pen components.  Also, the firm has an in-house jeweler and artist, Umberto Baggiani, whom we also met on our tour.  Such things as product development and lost wax casting are facilitate with his assistance.  All of the caps, barrels, fittings and trims are produced at the manufactory, helping to keep production costs down.

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 by 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 also 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.

What makes Stipula successful is it's ability to quickly adapt and move forward in an ever-changing industry.  At any given time there are always new projects underway, and we got a glimpse.  The Model T, inspired by the well-known automobile produced by Henry Ford in 1908, is simple and solid.  Trimmed in sterling silver and also fit with a 6mm titanium nib, this pen is for the buyer who wants a very well-made pen with superior quality at a very affordable price.