BIC Simple and Joyful
This is the book that tells the story of BIC and the incredible heritage of its iconic brand.
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Our Story
Today, we bring simplicity and joy to everyday life
Over more than 75 years, BIC grew from humble beginnings to the simply iconic brand we are today. Passionate about bringing simplicity and joy to people all over the world, we continue to reimagine everyday essentials, designing products that are part of every heart and home.
BIC began simply – with a vision and a pen. The goal was to create a product that would answer the fundamental consumer need for a smooth, effortless writing tool. But what resulted was so much more: BIC's innovation made the art of writing accessible to all, giving everyone the power of creative expression.
Today, we're still passionate about bringing simplicity and joy to everyday life. Our ambition is to reimagine everyday essentials, designing products that live in the hearts and homes of millions of people around the globe.
We believe we positively impact the world by offering sustainable solutions that respect the planet through smart design and the creation of products that last.
1940-1949
- 1944 - Marcel Bich and Édouard Buffard start their business creating writing instrument parts.
1950-1959
- 1950 - Marcel Bich improves László Biró's ballpoint design and launches his own pen under the BIC® brand. The first BIC® Cristal pen is introduced in France.
- 1951 - BIC establishes its presence in Belgium.
- 1953 - Société BIC is created.
- 1954 - BIC enters Italy.
- 1955 - BIC enters the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Spain.
- 1956 - BIC launches the BIC® M10® retractable pen.
- 1956 - BIC expands into Brazil.
- 1957 - BIC moves into the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
- 1958 - BIC enters the North American market.
- 1958 - BIC expands into Africa and the Middle East.
- 1959 - BIC enters the Scandinavian market.
1960-1969
- 1960 - BIC develops in Africa and the Middle East, selling products through local distributors.
- 1961 - Raymond Savignac creates BIC's iconic BIC Boy logo.
- 1965 - BIC enters the Japanese market.
- 1969 - BIC creates BIC Graphic, offering other brands a selection of products to use as advertising aids.
1970-1979
- 1970 - BIC launches the BIC® 4-Color™ pen.
- 1972 - BIC is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
- 1973 - BIC launches the first BIC® full-size pocket lighter with an adjustable flame.
- 1973 - BIC begins manufacturing and distributing products in the Mexican market.
- 1975 - BIC is the first brand to launch a one-piece razor.
- 1979 - BIC acquires Conté®, a famous 200-year-old French brand, and officially enters the coloring and drawing markets.
1980-1989
- 1980 - BIC launches its first razor with a sensitive blade.
- 1981 - After acquiring Tabur Marine, BIC begins manufacturing and selling water sports products under the BIC Sport brand.
- 1985 - BIC launches the BIC Mini Lighter.
- 1988 - BIC launches its first mechanical pencil, the BIC Matic.
1990-1999
- 1990 - BIC introduces the first decorated BIC lighter.
- 1992 - To broaden its range of stationery products, BIC purchases Wite-Out®, a famous American brand of correction products.
- 1993 - BIC launches BIC® Evolution®, a graphite and coloring pencil made with recycled materials.
- 1994 - Bruno Bich assumes role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
- 1995 - BIC opens BIC Polska, followed in 1996 by BIC Russia and further expansion in Eastern Europe.
- 1997 - BIC purchases the Tipp-Ex® brand, the leading European brand of correction products.
- 1998 - BIC launches its first utility lighter in the United States.
2000-2009
- 2001 - The BIC® Cristal® pen enters the Museum of Modern Art of New York's permanent collection.
- 2002 - BIC launches a range of Multi-Purpose Lighters.
- 2003 - BIC launches its sustainable development program.
- 2004 - BIC acquires Stypen® and enters the school fountain pen market.
- 2006 - BIC purchases Pimaco®, adding adhesive labels to its stationery offerings in Latin America.
- 2006 - The BIC® Cristal® pen, full-size pocket lighter and Classic Original and Classic Sensitive razors enter the permanent collection of the Musée National d'Art Moderne/Centre de création industrielle-Centre Georges Pompidou Paris.
- 2006 - Mario Guevara is appointed Chief Executive Officer.
- 2009 - BIC launches the Ecolutions razor with a bioplastic handle and 100% recycled cardboard packaging.
- 2009 - BIC becomes the first writing instrument manufacturer to receive the French eco-label NF Environment (NF4000) for seven of its products.
- 2009 - BIC enters the Indian stationery market by acquiring 40% of Cello, the number one brand of writing instruments in India.
2010-2019
- 2011 - BIC partners with TerraCycle in Europe, a pioneer in collecting and reusing non-recyclable waste, for the collection of used writing instruments.
- 2012 - BIC establishes a subsidiary in the UAE to manage Middle East and Africa operations, creating proximity to customers and consumers.
- 2013 - BIC opens a lighter facility in China, better positioning the business to supply the fast-growing Asian lighter market.
- 2015 - BIC completes the acquisition of Cello in India, creating BIC Cello.
- 2015 - BIC opens ‘shopbic.com’ in the United States, the group’s first online shopping platform.
- 2015 - BIC launches BIC Kids, its first line of drawing and coloring tools for kids.
- 2016 - Bruno Bich is reinstated as Chief Executive Officer of BIC.
- 2016 - BIC creates the BIC Corporate Foundation for Education.
- 2017 - In partnership with Plas Eco, BIC develops ‘Ubicuity’ park benches made from recycled pens.
- 2018 - Gonzalve Bich becomes Chief Executive Officer of BIC.
- 2018 - BIC enters the temporary tattoo market with the launch of BodyMark® By BIC® temporary tattoo markers in North America.
- 2019 - BIC completes divestiture of BIC Sport, its water sports subsidiary, to Tahe Outdoors.
- 2019 - BIC acquires the Lucky stationery brand in Nigeria
- 2019 - BIC establishes a subsidiary in Lagos.
2020 to today
- 2020 - BIC launches BodyMark® By BIC® in European markets.
- 2020 - BIC launches the EZ Reach multi-purpose pocket lighter in the United States – with an extended wand, it is perfect for all lighting occasions.
- 2020 - BIC acquires Djeep, a French manufacturer of high-end pocket lighters, strengthening leadership in branded pocket lighters.
- 2020 - BIC acquires Rocketbook, a brand of reusable smart notebooks, entering digital writing space.
- 2020 - BIC sold its Brazilian adhesive label business, PIMACO, to Grupo CCRR.
- 2020 - BIC establishes its five-year Horizon Plan, a path to sustainability and ensuring a brighter future for all.
- 2021 - BIC launches the BIC Cristal Re’New ballpoint pen in Europe, the company’s first refillable metallic pen.
- 2022 - BIC establishes subsidiary in Ivory Coast to centralize West and Central Africa operations.
- 2022 - BIC acquires Inkbox, a Canadian brand of semi-permanent, realistic tattoos.
- 2022 - BIC acquires Tattly, a leading brand in temporary tattoos that works with real artists to develop designs.
- 2022 - BIC acquires AMI (Advanced Magnetic Interaction), a French start-up pioneer in augmented technology.
- 2024 - BIC makes its solo debut into the Metaverse with the launch of the Roblox game, BIC DrawPlanet: Go make WOW.
- 2024 - BIC launches its first reloadable lighter, the BIC EZ Load multi-purpose lighter, in North America.
- 2024 - BIC reintroduces the BIC Kids line in parts of Asia and Europe with updated products and packaging.
- 2024 - BIC launches its first ever metaverse art gallery leveraging the Cristal ballpoint pen competition, Art Master Africa.
Watch what we do next!
BIC'S VISION AND MISSION
Our Vision: "At BIC, we bring simplicity and joy to everyday life."
Our Mission: "We create high-quality, safe, affordable, essential products, trusted by everyone."
BIC's Vision and Mission
BIC Values
Our values include:
BIC Products Are...