Though virtually any and everyone, in and out of the pen business, including customers, would consider Retro51 (so named, because 1951 was the year of Kartsotis’s birth) in fact a pen company, Kartsotis himself does not, explaining thusly: “We’re a gift company. We are selling the accoutrements of life. A pen is not a pen, it’s a vehicle to an end—a way of showing who you are.”

Since its founding, Retro 1951 has been constantly on a mission to bring fashion, fun, and value to the world of writing instruments, and business accessories. Known for bright, cool colors, and an even better attitude, Retro stands by their mission, "Life is too short to carry an ugly pen!"™ and everything about Retro only reiterates that. With a product line, now including leather goods, games, even reading glasses—many of the items created in the 1940s–50s style Kartsotis remembers from childhood—the world has become the company’s marketplace. Found in all 50 of the United States; Germany; the Benelux region of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg; France; England; Spain; Portugal; the Middle East; South Africa; and Australia; Kartsotis’s wares truly help to define lifestyles on a global scale.

In 1997, the Tornado style was introduced, and the commercial shape of the company, not to mention the “shape” of many people’s writing styles, changed forever. Since then the Crossword and Sudoku pencils, and numerous other editions, including the Deluxe, Greeting Card, and Special Edition collections have been added, making the Tornado one of the most extensive design lines in the industry. In the Special Edition Collection, each pen is a unique and individual work of art, made entirely by hand from the finest materials—no two are ever alike! The Postmaster is carefully covered in authentic cancelled stamps from around the world and finished with a high gloss lacquer. Shredded US currency is applied by hand to each barrel of the Tornado Bill, and then covered with high gloss lacquer ensuring a luxurious feel. In old Italian fishing villages, the fruits of the sea were lovingly combined to create a wonderful dish known the world over as Cioppino; thus comes the name of Retro 51's striking creation that combines an extraordinary finish and unbelievable value to create a rare beauty. The genuine seashell barrels are made in stages to transform the rough seashell into a perfectly fitted piece that radiates color and iridescence.

Always on the lookout for the latest trend or newest thing in the market, Retro merges the fashionable colors and designs of today with the vintage, quality ideals of "the good ol' days," such as the Polygon and Classic desk set collections, which address a market abandoned by many other brands. Every Retro piece is designed with that nostalgic, early American-dream, and it could be best said that "We make 'em like they used to!"™

Spring of this year, 2007, touching multi-generational chords of all sorts, and recalling the 1960s' boom of transcontinental motorcycle excursions by middle-class couples, the Harley Davison Streamliner in pink may very well put a new twist on that old saying, resulting in something like, We make 'em like they used to, even when they didn't. Who knows what is next on the horizon for Kartsotis and Retro? There is only one way to tell. Keep your eyes peeled: Is it a bird? Is it a pen? No, it's a Retro51. Despite all the time and effort devoted to creative design, and policies to assure that only the finest materials are utilized, the durable and attractive Retro51 pens and pencils remain available at prices far below most other lines of fine chirographic implements.