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In France, in 1945, Marcel Bich, a French ink manufacturer and his business partner Edouard Buffard bought a factory outside Paris and set up business as the maker of parts for fountain pens and mechanical lead pencils.

While this business began to grow, the development of the ballpoint was advancing in both Europe and the United States and Marcel Bich saw the enormous potential for this new writing instrument.

After obtaining the patent rights to a ball pen created by Hungarian inventor, László Biro, Marcel Bich introduced his own ball pen in December 1950. Selling his product as a reliable pen at an affordable price, he called it ‘BIC’ a shortened, easy-to-remember version of his own name.

The famous BIC® Cristal® ballpoint pen was then born; he supported its launch with memorable, effective advertising and its sales surpassed even his own expectations.

The company then expanded its product range and began to enter foreign markets by creating subsidiaries, acquiring control of foreign companies or through agents.

Since 1950, BIC ball pens have revolutionised the writing habits of millions of consumers all around the world, who continue to value them for their quality and affordable price.

Today, to meet specific consumer needs, BIC offers a complete range of stationery products sold under a range of major recognised brands:

• Writing instruments and markers under the BIC®, STYPEN® and SHEAFFER® brands
• Colouring and drawing under the BIC KIDS® brand
• Correction products under the TIPP-EX® brand

In 2002, the BIC® Cristal® ballpoint pen entered the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art of New York (MOMA), at the Department of Architecture and Design.

In 2005, BIC sold its hundred billionth ballpoint pen!