No matter whether you're an iPhone user or have an Android, there's one tool that you and everyone you know will use for the rest or your life. It's not the latest tablet, smart watch or anything that needs electricity of any kind.

According to an infographic published by the Advertising Specialty Institute in Counselor magazine, pens and other writing utensils are dominant products. Better yet, pens as promotional products are here to stay.

More than half of Americans — 56% to be exact — own some sort of branded writing tool, whether it's a basic vinyl rendition, a mechanical pencil, or a quality refillable metal-bound pen. Apparently, pens are so popular and useful that environmental bloggers praise their usefulness and easy impact on the office and the environment. Meanwhile, some comic writers have even devised smart strategies to keep people from stealing their pens.

Don't think that branded and logoed pens appeal only to upper echelon service-based businesses such as accountants, law firms, stockbrokers or realtors. In fact, these popular promotional products work just as well for local auto body shops, house painters, caterers, restaurants and repair services. You need only show your small to medium size business (SMB) customers the wide variety of options available.

Luxurious Looks or Nostalgic Charm

The South Bend Tribune wrote earlier this year that demand for pens has grown worldwide both from consumers and from businesses. The newspaper mentioned different trends popping up in the U.S. and in emerging markets.

"Demand for basic writing instruments is high in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East due to the increasing population and literacy levels", the Tribune said. Meanwhile, in the United States and the west, the report added that "the demand for luxury pens is higher . . . as gift items (that) are nowadays perceived as fashion accessories, similar to high-priced watches."

As we discussed in Idea Custom Solutions' weekly blog, fountain pens have made a comeback. Along with metal ball point pens, they are an increasingly popular promotional product choice for businesses that want to offer their customers gifts or something for everyday use that has a touch of style and sophistication. Part of the appeal might be the nostalgia trend.

"Part of the resurgence is the infatuation with vintage in pop culture, fashion and design," Counselor writes. For example, "vinyl record sales (rose) 52% in 2014 and then rose again by 30% last year . . . according to Nielsen.” Other vintage items that tap into retro fashions of the 1960s and 70s, including Polaroid cameras and vintage jackets and accessories, are trendy again.

At the same time, style never goes out of style. Major global brands have started to use elegant high-end promotional products to reel in business. For example, The Robb Report revealed that BMW dealers are now offering BMW-styled blue jewel Montblanc pens to new car buyers.

Basic but Classy

That said your SMB customers don’t have to go high-end to boost their brands. There are a ton of basic but classy writing instruments available. SMBs can opt for stylish, shiny metal-finish pens and pencils, or choose more bright and colorful options that allow for the imprinting of logos in an assortment of colors.

Some of the "editor's picks" from ASI's in-depth look at style and product last spring revealed that variety of options. Various items are designed with specific SMB customers in mind.

•    Pens made of a recycled bottles or bamboo are perfect for healthy living stores, health and wellness practitioners or even the environment-conscious
•    Multi-function stylus/pens appeal to gadget enthusiasts and tech firms
•    Pens with built-in screwdrivers work for handy types and fix-it firms
•    Classic ballpoints are a favorite with salespeople, members of academia and others who need pens at their fingertips

Moreover, ASI identified an entire range of professionals that rely on pens with different requirements and stories.

When it comes to presenting options to earn new customers, ASI recommends a few preparatory steps. In addition to showing the different products available, ASI says it is best to create packages based on what your customers’ needs are and specifically geared to target their audiences.

Something else to cover is helping customers utilize different promo products to showcase their logos and include important contact information, website URLs, social media handles, and even names of products and services.

Whatever writing implements your customers choose and the details they decide to feature, reach out to Idea Custom Solutions for the best in vector artwork to make their logos shine.