Who doesn't need a pen on a regular basis? We use them everyday, and they can be used for some time. They are a great way to promote a business. Anytime a person has to use that pen your company name or product will get noticed. People will also remember how it felt to be your customer. A pen is a gift with worth and customers understand that.
A lot of places will give you a little gift or some info in a pamphlet to advertise their company. Those things don't stick around very long. A pen won't get tossed into the trash like a pamphlet. People keep them until they run out of ink. This means they will remind the recipient of that company the whole time the pen is sitting on their desk or in their purse.
You should have pens for your own business use. An establishment that needs people to do any sort of writing will need to continuously keep pens in stock. People are forever keeping the pen that is handed to them while doing paperwork.
Instead of spending money on a plain old pen you could get promotional pens that are supposed to go home with people. Loads of patrons will be very happy to keep the pen you gave them. It will come in handy again no doubt. They will be able to accept it easily if they know they are supposed to.
You could also give pens en mass to a charity for their own use. During events in your area they can be given to people that attend. A lot of groups could use pens. When you hand out a promotional pen you are accomplishing a few things. You are keeping your company in peoples minds for a good long while. And you are putting your logo out to be seen. Pens are everywhere and are used by all sorts of businesses. Banking institutions and insurance companies as well as the little grocery shop around the corner use them.
For a grander statement than just a pen try
promotional umbrellas for upscale handouts. Another even nicer item is
conference bags because they make recipients excited.