About Us
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Once Upon a Time
William Penn began as a quest to bring the fine writing instruments of the world to India. Before us, eager fountain pen enthusiasts had to search far and wide
to, Sheaffers and Sailors of the world.
Our founder Nikhil Ranjan believed that India was
a viable market for fine writing instruments and
accessories. His mission was to bridge the gap between brands and their customers. So, he set sail to find a name that would encompass the company’s relationships with iconic, foreign brands and its love of everything related
to writing.
What’s in a Name?
William Penn was named after the eponymous founder of Pennsylvania. A man of keen intelligence, he was a staunch advocate of religious toleration and a prolific writer. With connections to both American and European history, the name made sense for a company which wanted to bring the iconic writing instrument brands of the West home to India. William is, of course, also the name of the most famous writer in history - William Shakespeare. Penn proved to be an irresistible pun on the company’s core product, and thus the name was adopted and our company born.
Who are we today?
As we grew, we started thinking about the role we wanted to play.
It didn't take long to realise that for us, there is nothing sweeter than being part of the special moments. The birthdays, graduations and the myriad of festivals that add so much vibrancy to this beautiful nation.
As the needs of our customers evolved, so did we. We expanded from
a store filled with fine writing instruments to a gifting destination with something to offer everyone. We did this by paying attention
to the little touches, the details that make gifting such a profound way to express joy, love, or pride. We acquired and created brands
we believe in and partnered with other exceptional brands to curate
a catalogue we are so very proud of.
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In our 20th year we acquired 110 years of history!
In 2022, William Penn acquired Sheaffer, the iconic American pen company that was founded in 1913. The Sheaffer Pen Company began over 100 years ago with a big idea from a visionary thinker. Walter Sheaffer, a skilled jeweller by trade, had an eye for detail and a mind for invention. In the small back room of his father's Iowa jewellery store, Sheaffer developed and patented a revolutionary fountain pen that improved the writing experience for pen users across America. Over a century later, Sheaffer continues to deliver a unique writing experience for pen enthusiasts. The legendary White Dot designed into every Sheaffer pen is an enduring symbol of quality, prestige and performance that is recognised across the world. William Penn has been a licensed distributor of the brand since 2003, and is deeply honoured to be entrusted with Sheaffer’s name and legacy. We look forward to exploring all the great opportunities this exciting acquisition brings.
We created. We treasured.
An English gem we couldn’t resist, is now our crown jewel. Lapis Bard is a brand with exquisite design sensibilities, that believes in creating luxury products that evolve with your needs. Each piece reflecting expert craftsmanship.
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The Milestones that lead us here
2002
The inception of William Penn with our first store in Koramangala, Bangalore.
2004
Chilling in the mall – we opened our store at Forum Mall, Koramangala, Bangalore.
2010
A perfect landing – we opened our famous Delhi airport store.
2011
We launched our signature experience of allowing patrons to put any pen in the store to the test.
2012
Hosted a workshop by Sailor’s legendary nib master Nobuyoshi Nagahara...
2016
Pennline, an in-house brand focused on creating innovative writing products, was launched.
2017
Evolved from a premium fine writing store into a multi-brand and multi-category retailer.
2018
Launched innovative products under Pennline like wireless powerbank organisers & Quickrite.
2019
Added a personal touch with our in-house product-personalisation services.
2020
Survived the Pandemic by taking a bold step to expand our digital presence.
2021
The “Words that Matter” initiative was born and the exclusive 83 collection launched.
2022
In our 20th year we acquired 110 years of history. We acquired Sheaffer.
2023
Nikhil Ranjan inducted into Sheaffer museum, unveiled new pen. Celebrated 21st anniversary.
2024
Launched Sheaffer Coffee Edition, new stores in Pune & Chennai.
2025
Launch of Sheaffer Ionic, Sheaffer Legacy, Sheaffer Expressions, Sheaffer x Emily In Paris and Lapis Bard Mandeville Collection
2026
Celebrating 24 years with new collections on the horizon.