How the Pentel Inking Center Was Born
The Pentel Inking Center wasn’t created in a boardroom — it was born in the heart of artist alley at a Comicon.
During one of our first engagements with illustrators, we noticed something fascinating: nearly every artist referred to their favorite pens simply as their inking tools. That insight sparked an idea — what if we built an entire display around the art of inking itself?
From that single conversation came the Pentel Inking Center, a first-of-its-kind merchandising concept that brought together Pentel’s most beloved pens in one showcase. Some of these pens had been part of Pentel’s catalog for over 50 years, yet many artists were discovering them for the first time through this new presentation.
The display wasn’t small or inexpensive — it was a major commitment for retailers. But it paid off. The Inking Center became the highest-grossing Pentel display in company history, proving that when you listen to your customers — especially the ones creating art every day — innovation naturally follows.
Marketing That Makes a Difference
At SAMPRO, marketing isn’t just a department — it’s a philosophy. We believe that great merchandising doesn’t just sell products; it tells stories. That belief is why point-of-purchase (POP) development has become a cornerstone of how we approach retail experience design.
The success of the Inking Center inspired future innovations, including the Slice Cutting Display, which followed the same principles of immersive, audience-driven merchandising — understanding the customer first, and building from there.
Because at SAMPRO, the best marketing ideas don’t come from us — they come from the people who use the products.
