Phase Two: Fully Operational

A big thing happened on Wednesday: The Shop at NockCo.com launched!

You probably know this by now, but I wanted to be sure to discuss it here becasue I wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who has supported The Pen Addict all of these years. You guys and gals played a huge role in making this dream come alive and I wanted you to know how appreciative I am. It's pretty amazing honestly.

When Jeff and I got together last summer and laid the groundwork for Nock Co. we weren't sure how far we could take it, but we were convinced we had something. Phase One: The Kickstarter, went reasonably well despite several delays. We learned a lot about producing our cases, and we learned a lot about ourselves. We gathered all of that information, fine-tuned it, and had the nerve to think we could open a sustainable business selling pen cases of all things. I mean really, say that out loud. "I run a business that makes and sells pen cases."

It's pretty awesome, huh? It's a tick above "I write a blog and record a podcast about pens." :)

In all seriousness, I owe a debt of gratitude to all of you and a deep down thanks for your support and encouragement along the way. Jeff and I are completely stoked about how far we have made it and are even more excited about what we have planned for the future. We hope you join us for the ride!

In case you missed it, Jeff did a nice wrap-up post of Launch Day complete with a slideshow of some of the action in the shop (and a prime view of my posterior). Be sure to check it out.

Testing: The Hobonichi Planner Cover by Nock Co.

I am fortunate to work with an amazingly talented person in the form of my Nock Co. co-founder Mr. Jeffrey Bruckwicki. What he lacks in the surprise category ("I'm making you a cover for that thing for Christmas") he more than makes up for it in design and manufacturing skill. The guy has seriously got it.

To get him started, he outlined the shape of my Hobonichi Planner 2014 on a piece of paper. And that was it. About two days later I had a picture of the shell, and the day after that it was done. This is in his spare time, mind you, after working his day job and putting in long hours behind the machines for the Nock Co. Kickstarter project. To say I am impressed is an understatement.

To post this here is almost unfair because this is the only one Jeff is making...at least for this year. Maybe for the 2015 release if there is enough interest, but ordering a Hobonichi Planner from Japan is a hurdle for many people. Regardless, I just wanted to show off what Jeff came up with in a manner of hours because it blew my mind.

The front cover is simple, just how I like it. Jeff used Midnight Blue Cordura with black binding and a zip enclosure for added protection with a pull tab to assist with zipping and unzipping.

The innards are where this cover really stands out. The cover of the Hobonichi Planner slides easily into front and back slots to keep the book safe and stable, and there is a pen pouch on the front side which can hold a couple of your favorite writing utensils. A bookmark is stitched into the top so you can quickly access the current day in your planner.

Party in the rear! Jeff snuck in a horizontal pocket in the back, perfect for loose sheets of paper or your favorite memo book. Did I mention the liner is the Blue Jay from our Kickstarter campaign? It is, and it is my favorite.

One last sneak attack on the backside with another horizontal pocket. Perfect for index cards. I wonder if anyone will be releasing new index cards next year to fill these pockets? Hmmm...

This design nailed any and every high point I could think of. The funny thing is I didn't have to think of any. Jeff was in my brain and knocked this design out of the park.

The future is bright, folks.

For a full review of the Hobonichi Planner be sure to check out Ana's review at The Well-Appointed Desk.

The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 74 - Why Can't You Do This

In Episode 74 of The Pen Addict Podcast Myke and I make corrections of the embarrassing type before digging into my big news of the week: The launch of the Nock Co. Kickstarter Project. If you want to hear the nitty gritty on how we got from sketch to launch you definitely want to listen. It's been quite the ride so far!

Show Notes & Download Link

My Brasstown prototype