crayons and pencils

A pencil has a graphite lead (in different hardness grades from 2H hard to 6B soft), is used for writing and drawing and is erasable. A coloured pencil has a coloured lead made of pigments and wax, used for colouring and drawing — ideal for children from 3 years. A wax crayon is made of coloured wax, is more solid (less prone to breaking), suited to the youngest children from 2 years and draws a thicker stroke. Promotional pencils most often come with an eraser (a combined product on the end of the pencil) and are usually hexagonal for a better grip. The choice depends on the target audience — pencils for adults, coloured pencils and crayons for employees children.

Coloured pencils are an ideal gift for companies targeting families with children — insurance providers (welcome packs for parents), banks (gifts for family accounts), restaurants and hotels (entertaining children during meals), healthcare facilities (paediatric waiting rooms), supermarkets, e-shops with children goods. For corporate Family Days, coloured pencils and colouring books are essential. They are also very popular in top management as a gift for the children of VIP clients — the brand is felt twice as much when the gift also reaches the child. The trend is towards child-safe coloured pencils (ATC certification), made from FSC-certified wood or recycled materials. A set of 6 pencils in eco packaging from recycled paper is a top choice.

For wooden pencils and coloured pencils the standard is pad printing — single- or multi-colour logos on the longitudinal body. The classic placement is in the lower third of the pencil (3 cm from the sharpened tip), where visibility during writing is best. For full-colour designs with photographs we recommend UV digital printing, which allows detailed reproduction including gradients. Lacquered pencils allow higher-quality printing than matte ones. Coloured pencils are usually printed using the same technology, but the area for the logo is smaller because of the narrower form. Wax crayons are harder to print on due to the material (wax) — most often the logo is printed on the packaging or the box rather than the crayon itself. Sets of coloured pencils carry the main branding visibly on the packaging.

The standard choice is certified wood (lime, cedar, FSC pine) with a graphite or coloured lead. The trend is towards coloured pencils and pencils made from alternative materials: bamboo — an elegant eco choice; recycled paper rolled into a pencil shape; PLA bioplastic from corn for coloured pencils shaped like classic plastic ones. The pencil body can be hexagonal (better grip, does not roll off the desk), triangular (more comfortable for children) or round (the classic form). Leads should comply with EU standard EN 71-3 (safety for children, free from heavy metals and toxic dyes).

Eco pencils are a growing category with several variants. Bamboo pencils — a naturally regrowing material with no logging required, an elegant look, certified. Pencils from recycled paper — the pencil body is made of rolled recycled cardboard, fully biodegradable. Pencils with an integrated seed — once used up, the pencil can be planted in the ground and a plant will grow (often herbs or flowers), ideal for environmental campaigns. Uncoated pencils made of FSC-certified wood — minimal chemical processing. Coloured pencils made of natural wood with GOTS-certified leads. The price is 15–30 % higher than the standard option, but the signal about the company values is significant. For companies in education, healthcare and ecology, an eco pencil is a given.