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BIC manufactures and sells 24 million stationery products every day around the world. BIC is the world’s number one manufacturer of ballpoint pens and a leader in stationery products.

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

While his writing instruments parts 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, Ladislao Biro, Marcel Bich introduced his own ball pen in December 1950. Touting 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 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 enters the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art of New York (MOMA), at the Department of Architecture and Design.

In 2005, BIC has sold its hundred billionth ballpoint pen.

Product Timeline

• 1950 - The famous BIC Cristal ballpoint pen.
• 1956 - BIC M10 Clic retractable ball pen.
• 1959 - Swedish ball pen company Ballograf is acquired.
• 1961 - New Tungsten Carbide ballpoint and BIC Orange Fine.
• 1965 - Authorisation to use the ballpoint pen in the French schools.
• 1970 - BIC 4-colour.
• 1979 - Conte (French pencils and felt pens) acquisition.
• 1980 - BIC Roller.
• 1982 - BIC Biro (Round Stic) pen is launched, one of the best selling pens in North America.
• 1988 - BIC Matic Mechanical pencil, number 1 selling mechanical pencil in the United States.
• 1991 - BIC introduces fashion pens.
• 1992 - Wite Out (US correction products) acquisition.
• 1993 - BIC Softfeel ball pens and Conte Evolution pencil.
• 1997 - Tipp Ex (European manufacturer of correction products) and Sheaffer (American Manufacturer of fountain pens) acquisition.
• 1998 - BIC NS Fine Ball Pen with tropical ink.
• 1999 - Various added value ball pens with grips.
• 2000 - BIC Exact Tip Free Ink Roller and BIC Intensity Gel Ink Roller.
• 2001 - BIC Cristal Pocket, BIC Technolight Pocket Highlighter, Tipp Ex Shake’n Squeeze Correction Pen.
• 2002 - BIC Cristal Grip and Velocity ballpoint pens; BICZ4, Grip Roller, Intensity Pastel, Intensity Metallic, Intensity Fluo and Intensity Clic rollers; Conte Evolution Triangle Colour Pencil; Tipp-Ex/BIC Wite-Out Exact Liner correction tape. The BIC Cristal ballpoint pen enters the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art of New York (MOMA), at the Department of Architecture and Design.
• 2003 - BIC Cristal Pocket Scents, Orange Grip and BU2 ballpoint pens; BIC Cristal Gel and Velocity rollers; BIC Matic Fun and Atlantis Pencil mechanical pencils; BIC Z4 highlighter; BIC Permanent Grip permanent marker; Conte Evolution Triangle graphite pencil; Tipp-Ex/Wite-Out Micro Tape correction tape
• 2004 - New stationery products with a more contemporary design, like the Atlantis Stic ballpoint pen and the Round Stic Grip mechanical pencil; BIC Permanent Grip CD marker; BIC Velleda Grip dry wipe marker; Disney Magic Artist BIC full range of colouring products. Conté colouring products are progressively commercialised under BIC Kids brand. Side dispenser Tipp-Ex Correction Tape. Acquisition of Stypen, French manufacturer of quality fountain pens, and acquisition of Kosaido, BIC distributor in Japan. Sale of Ballograf business.
• 2005 - BIC has sold its hundred millionth ballpoint pen. BIC introduces the premium range of writing instruments, BIC Select, with a metal bodies. BIC Kids Mini Kid Couleur colouring felt pen.
• 2006 - BIC launches a two-in-one ballpoint and highlighter, called Duo in the United States and Briefing in Europe, as well as Easy Clic, an ingenious fountain pen for children that is easy and fun to use, and cleaner as well. A wide range of school fountain pens, classic or with decor, some of them licensed, is commercialised under BIC brand, while a modern and luxurious fountain pen line is commercialised under Stypen brand. Permanent markers with fashionable colours, BIC Marking Colour. The correction segment innovates with Tipp-Ex Speedy/Wite-Out BigWheel, the first correction tape with training wheels, and Delete’O, a correction tape designed for a perfect handling.