Ink July 2016

Ink Newsletter | July 2016

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Ink Newsletter | July 2016

Editorial Hello everyone, hope you all had a great Raya holiday and back to the office

may browse for the catalogue at this link https://goo.gl/lzcT5w and share

refreshed and raring to go!

with your business partners, associate companies and friends who would like to purchase our stationery and writing instruments for corporate events

It is the second half of the year! We are heading towards the final school

such as annual dinner giveaways, staff appreciation, events and much more!

semester and thereafter, the Back to School season for 2016/2017. We

As you can see, the catalogue features all the products that we carry in our

have had a few product launches so far this year including Pelikan new

market and has been creatively designed by our marketing team!

professional writing range, Stola, and the new herlitz schoolbags Clever Classmate. Both are well received at this early stage and we will continue

Last but not least, please follow and like us on social media Facebook and

to launch these new ranges with more availability in more outlets in the

Instagram to find out more about our promotional activities. While we

market. A few other product launches are in the plans in the coming months

are planning for the big Back to School season towards the end of year, we

and we will be promoting these products through our distribution partners

are frequently highlighting our brand, events and new products in smaller

and our retail platform, the Pelikan Store. So expect more events, more fun

promotional blasts, giveaways and competitions on our social media

and excitement, and look out for our product promotional materials in the

platforms. Your feedback and support will be much appreciated and the

print and social media.

promotional mileage driven by our staff will be immense in encouraging us to do better. Also, do read our monthly INK newsletter to get the latest

We are also pleased to launch our second annual Corporate Catalogue valid

updates on Pelikan Malaysia – the happenings and the happened events.

from July 2017 onwards. This new catalogue is updated with our latest

Thanks!

product assortment and pricing from Pelikan, herlitz and Geha brands. You

Phikyin Loo Yours sincerely,

In a Bl ts News/Even Marketing Pelikan Hubs

Pelikan Hubs 2016 will happen soon! Pelikan Hubs started in 2014 so this will be its third year. This year, Kuala Lumpur will be one of the hubs’ cities! Interested to join? Pelikan Hubs in short is a gathering of fountain pens enthusiasts to share their passion with each other. You can share your stories relating to your favorite pens and your love for handwriting, learn new tips & tricks and meet new friends; whatever it is Pelikan Hubs promise to be a fun night for fountain pens lovers and Pelikan fans!

Pelikan Hubs is organised by Pelikan at pre-selected venues in cities all over the world. For KL, the gathering will be on 23 September, 7.30pm. The venue hasn’t been confirmed yet and will be announced when we get closer to the date. Let us know if you are interested and don’t forget to spread this news around.

ee Buy 2 Get 1 Fr

Buy 2 get another 1 free! This is the promotion currently running at the Pelikan Store for the Raya season. Normally a promo of this nature only allows you to get the same free product that you paid for but this is unique; you get to choose any of the same or lower priced product as long as they in the same product group. Interesting isn’t it? Visit Pelikan Store at The Gardens Mall to enjoy this great deal. Promotion ends 31 July. T&C apply.

nd The

A ate Contest – Clever Classm Winners Are..

The “Guess The Weight” Clever Classmate contest was done last month by our partner Times bookstores. Now, the results are out! The winners are; Lee Li Teng (Set A) Louis Tan (Set B) Zhang Long (Set C) Janet Siew - (Online Contest) For those who are not aware, “Guess The Weight” Clever Classmate contest was organised by our partner Times bookstores. There were 2 version of the contest, one at Times bookstores outlet at Pavilion KL and an online contest thorugh Times bookstores Facebook page.

Pelikan sponsored the prizes for the contest that include selected Pelikan & herlitz products (of course Clever Classmate bags too!).

Participants had to guess the weight of a herlitz bag and the closest answers to the actual weight were selected as the winners.

New Clever Classmate

s

Display @ Border

Do you know that Borders Bookstores chain is one of our latest retail channels? They carry selected Pelikan & herlitz products such as herlitz schoolbags. With Borders wide market reach, we are hopeful that it will give our products better market visibility. The new herlitz Clever Classmate schoolbag collection is already available at selected Borders outlets and to help highlighting it to customers, the bags are being displayed on a brand new spinning standee. Check it out!

ting arketing Mee M l a n o ti a rn Inte

Ink Newsletter | July 2016

Over 40 delegates actively participated in the second International Marketing Meeting held this year at the Falkensee office in Berlin, Germany, from 23 to 24 June 2016. The event was organised by Mr. Patrick Vulto, Head of European Marketing, and his team in sales and marketing. The main topics discussed were the products and marketing events/ activities for 2017 and beyond. The key important strategic takeaways were as follows: • • •

We defined School as the strategic core of our company Fine Writing and Youth are defined as the international growth platforms The role of Pelikan Basics and herlitz Office is to create critical mass

There were a lot of important feedbacks and decisions made during the meeting, and shared optimism about the growth potential and sales within Europe and new markets. As there were many new and old faces during the meeting, it was great to see both Pelikan and herlitz colleagues working together and learning about each others’ brands, products and marketing strategies. Most importantly, it was a good learning experience about the future product pipeline with lots of exciting new products especially in the fine writing instruments and school segments to look forward too.

kan Pens!

g Peli PJ Logo – Usin k li o th a K JK SM

The Sixth Form students of SMJK Katholik Petaling Jaya did their school proud when they managed to get into the Malaysia Book of Records by creating the largest logo (their school logo) using only used/unwanted pens! This project was part of the school’s 60th Anniversary celebration. A total of 1,523,677 pens were used, collected by the students from their friends, families and companies including us! We contributed a large number of unwanted pens including our markers. Have a look at the photos, the logo is amazing! The size of the logo is 40m x 27.1m, and currently they are waiting for the World Book of Records to certify them as the world record holder as well. From the looks of things, they have a great chance make it into world record book so let’s hope for the best! Can you see Pelikan pens in the photos?

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t Fe Produc

Ink 4001 Dark Green The 4001 inks from Pelikan were first mentioned in a price list in 1897. 4001 is one the rare products that is registered as a number, making it unique and special! In order to keep the 4001 collection up to date, new colours are introduced from time to time. Since a dark green ink is often requested by customers, Pelikan decided to produce 4001 in dark green! The dark green will replace the brilliant green colour in the collection.

Price: 30ml: RM15.79 (with GST) 62.5ml: RM28.51 (with GST) Paintbox Space+ 24 With the Space+® 24 premium paintbox, painting is all the more fun. It is made of sturdy materials so it’s perfect for kids! Space+ 24 has 22 quality paints for brilliant painting including silver and gold. It has 2 color palettes and 10 extra large mixing pots. The mixing tray is easy to clean and the paint bowls are easily exchangeable. What makes it even more amazing, the paints are replaceable so if you ran out of a single colour, just exchange that one particular colour with a new one!

Price: RM 74.09 (with GST) Water Container Space+ Introducing the specially made water container for Paintbox Space+. The Space+® Water Container has two water chambers and one compartment for paintbrushes. Comes in two colours Blue & Magenta, it is attachable to the Space+® and K12. The container is transparent so water level can easily be monitored and it is leak protected. The perfect match for Paintbox Space+.

Price: RM7.31 (with GST)

Article

Vaccination!

Quite a significant number of people are against vaccination. This issue is hotting up, not just in this country but all over the world as well. So we find it useful to share this article we found about the facts of vaccination. Have a thorough read! This article is written by Dr Adli Ali for Scientific Malaysian Magazine.

multi-doses vaccines. The amount used was significantly below the acceptable level considered tolerable by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and had evidently proven to be safe. Nonetheless, as a precautionary principle, Center for Disease Control (CDC) had directed removal of thiomersal from all childhood vaccines in 1999.

Concerns on Thiomersal could have been responsible for autism was disapproved based on the fact that no causal relationship was ever documented, and despite current removal of thiomersal-based vaccines, the steady increase in incidences of autism is maintained.

Childhood Vaccine Controversies: The Myths, The Facts And The Uncertainties Vaccine controversies and anti-vaccine movements are not something new. They began some 90 years ago in the early 20th century, even before the term “vaccination” was formally used. Let us now revisit what we may consider to be the 7 most scientifically relevant controversial issues relating to “vaccines” and “vaccination” and explore the facts and verdicts for each of these issues.

Controversy 1: Vaccines cause autism Verdict: MYTH This “myth” was based on an article published in 1998 in The Lancet, written by Andrew Wakefield, a British surgeon, suggesting that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine increased autism incidences among British children. This “infamous” article and his claim on the causal-relationship between vaccines and autism that ended up being discredited created a widespread fear among the public. Up until now, none of the numerous subsequent studies conducted were able to prove Dr. Wakefield’s claim and no scientific evidence has proven any possible link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The article was eventually deemed flawed and retracted by The Lancet based on the serious procedural errors, undisclosed financial conflicts of interest, and ethical violations. This controversy will always be a major myth in the vaccine world, hence, is officially referred to as the most damaging medical hoax of the century.

Controversy 2: Vaccines contain mercury and are damaging to body, leading to autism Verdict: MYTH Vaccines did contain Thiomersal, an organic mercurycontaining compound, which was used in small amounts previously as antifungal preservative in some

Controversy 3: Some vaccines are not Halal Verdict: PARTIAL FACT Some vaccines use porcine-based-enzymes in their production, creating concerns on the “halal”ness of those vaccines. However, despite the fact that these enzymes are used in some of the processes of the vaccine manufacturing, the Islamic fatwa committee has allowed the usage of these vaccines. This is based on several Islamic principles in dissecting the issue. On the “halal”ness of the vaccine product itself, the concept of the “tiny amount” of enzymes added to the huge quantity of vaccine solution produced, in line with the concept of “suci” or “pure element” in Islam. Secondly, the removal of the used enzymes in the final production is also parallel to the concept of “cleanliness and pure element” in Islam, hence making the final product as “not containing” any of the “non-halal” elements through the principle of look, smell and taste. Finally, based on the crucial need of using the vaccine in disease prevention in situations whereby we do not have other “purely halal” alternatives, Islamic scholars have ruled that the use of this vaccine may be allowed in accordance to a ruling based on the concept of “dharurah” or emergency situations. However there exist some differences of opinion on this matter, whereby the more strict scholars cannot accept this new “law” based on “ijma” or “agreements” of scholars, particularly in relation to the “halal” concept.

Controversy 4: Human foetuses are aborted to produce vaccines Verdict: PARTIAL FACT Research development and production of vaccines, especially in virus-based-vaccines, require culturing of the virus in specific human cells. The statement that human foetuses were aborted to produce vaccine is untrue, as in

Ink Newsletter | July 2016 the development process of vaccines,commerciallaboratory produced human cell-line culture are being used.

Nonetheless, historically, these commercially grown cells were harvested through intentional medically-sacrificed human fetuses, approved and monitored strictly by ethical bodies, and a few decades ago, this was done purely for the need of the scientific research. No subsequent abortion was performed thereafter for any other scientific purposes.

The usage of these foetus cell lines is extensive, extending to many different fields of the sciences, not just vaccine research and development.

Controversy 5: Natural protection is adequate and safer, vaccination is just redundant Verdict: PARTIAL FACT Natural infection does provide lifelong immunity against certain infections. However, in the case of most vaccine-preventable diseases, the idea that natural infection is safer and adequate is dangerously untrue.

Vaccine-preventable infections are proven to cause significant health problems, such as neurological side effects (or sequelae) from Hemophilus influenza meningitis and birth defects from maternal rubella infection, and fatality. In some organisms, a single naturally occurring infection may not be adequate to prevent the next infection and may lead to more severe disease, such as in the case of Dengue fever. Vaccination does not only prevent infection, but also prevents the disease associated with natural infection, i.e. cervical cancer through Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and hepatitis through Hepatitis B vaccination. As many organisms also have several serotypes, vaccination is not redundant in naturally protected individuals, as the vaccine may provide protection against other serotypes and enhance immune response towards the naturally protected serotype.

Controversy 6: Too many childhood vaccinations, immune system overloaded Verdict: MYTH Our immune system is just remarkable. Without us even realising it, the immune system is constantly exposed and able to prevent infections competently. Giving several vaccines at the same time is shown to be safe, immunologically effective, logistically and economically efficient. Concerns on overloading the immune system are false and based on a non-immunological assumption. It is crucial that protection is achieved by a certain point of time in a child’s life. This is based on the epidemiological knowledge on the prevalence and likeliness to encounter the infection. Combination vaccines also means less injections which lead to less parental anxiety and stress on the child.

Controversy 7: Vaccination is not without side effects Verdict: FACT As with any other drugs or interventions, vaccination is, of course, not without side effects. Most of them are mild and tolerable side effects such as fever, flu-like illness, and pain and/or redness at local injection site pain. These known side effects are clearly stated in the information sheets and well-tolerated in many. Development of vaccines, as with most drugs, involves several phases, and safety is among the first phase requirement before the candidate vaccine even goes to the clinical trial phase. Nonetheless, there were incidences where serious and unexpected complications occurred and only recognised after the wide usage of the vaccine within the population. One example is in the case of the rotavirus vaccine, Rotashield. This vaccination causes an increased incidence of intussusception among toddlers, leading to its retraction from usage soon after it was noticed. Tight surveillance is in place to monitor the safety of any drug and vaccine, as experience in different wider population might reveal new entities not discovered during the clinical trials.

There are several other arguments, not discussed in this article, that are being exploited by the anti-vaccine movements which are based on sentiment and falsebeliefs [14]. Faulty arguments that we do not need vaccination for measles since the infection is no longer a major problem, has led to the current measles outbreak in several countries [15, 16]. It is important for scientists, physicians and patients to know the advantages and the limitation of vaccines. Vaccination has come a long way since its discovery and had changed its primary role in infection prevention, to even therapeutic and disease prevention now. The new technology embedded in vaccine development, using an antigenic part of the pathogen (subunit vaccine) or the pathogen’s DNA materials (DNA vaccine) may not just come with less side effects, but possibly a more effective vaccine and also the answer to many more diseases that need to be tackled where a vaccine is yet to be developed.

This article is taken from Scientific Malaysian Magazine website. You can view the full article at this link http:// magazine.scientificmalaysian.com/article/childhoodvaccine-controversies-myths-facts-uncertainties/

p! u s ’ t Wha

01 | Double Joy for Syamsul During Raya! Congrats to Syamsul of Warehouse for being a dad for the third time.

Muhammad Adam Fitri Bin Shamsul Hafiz was born on 8 July 2016. The healthy baby boy was born in Kelantan while Syamsul and family were celebrating the third day of Raya there. Congrats again Syamsul!

WELCOME!!

02 | New Member of Pelikan Production.

Please join us in welcoming Deeban Kumar Nair who joined Pelikan Production as an Industrial Trainee. He is attached to the Lab Department until 5th September. Welcome Deeban Kumar, hope you will enjoy your time here and get to learn as much as you can.

04 | Raya Potluck After much whispers, Pelikan family finally managed to get together to celebrate Raya. The simple potluck get together was done at PASB Showroom on 21 July where food of all kind was contributed by the staff themselves from plain rice to bihun and spaghetti to sushi. Thumbs up for the nice simple event that brought smiles all around!

Pelikan Production family also had their Raya Potluck, 4 days later on 25 July at PPMSB office. Variety of food, and variety of traditional attires on show. Selamat Hari Raya all!

03 | Creating The Service Culture 8 Pelikan Asia staff took part in the Customer Service Excellent – Creating The Service Culture training on 21 July.

The one-day training that took place at Pelikan Office in Glenmarie aimed to improve trainees’ understanding of the needs and demand of the service industry. The training was conducted by Angelin Boo from Knowledge Evolution Sdn Bhd.

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Selamat Hari Raya M

ge: a s es

If you have any suggestion or any stories you feel should be published in the next issue of Ink!, please contact Hazri Nasaruddin at hazri@pelikan.com.my. Any suggestion is welcome. Thank you.