====== BIC ====== {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/bic_logo_current.jpg}} ==== About the Identity ==== {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/bic_logo_old.gif}} {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/bic_boy_old.jpg}} The Bic logo is made up of two elements: The BIC lettering in its slanted, round-cornered rectangle and the Bic Boy, which was designed by French graphic designer [[Raymond Savignac]]. The Bic logo has not been modified since 1950, when it first appeared. ==== Vintage Ads ==== {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/Savignac_BicBlotter.jpg?100}}\\ Raymond Savignac, c.1956 {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/Savignac_Bicrasior.jpg? 100}}\\ Raymond Savignac, 1978 {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/Savignac_Bic_Sherlock.jpg? 100}}\\ Raymond Savignac, 1950 {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/Kulling_Bic.jpg? 100}}\\ Ruedi Kulling, 1961 {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/Fix-Masseau_BicBlotter.jpg? 100}}\\ Fix-Masseau, 1950 {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/Amalric_BicBlotter.jpg? 100}}\\ Amalric, 1950 {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/Anon_BicMaskBlotter.jpg? 100}}\\ Anonymous, 1950 ==== Company History ==== In Clichy (France) in 1950, Marcel BICH obtained the patent for a ballpoint pen invented by a Hungarian, [[Laslo Biro]], improved its process, and introduced his own ballpoint pen which he called “pointe BIC®”, a shortened, easy-to-remember version of his own name. {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/49049084_95d2ac2ca0_m.jpg}} In 1953, he formed SOCIÉTÉ BIC to manufacture and market BIC® ballpoint pens. Remarkable for its writing features, its accessible price, and its original design, a form that fully follows function, the BIC® ballpoint pen revolutionized writing habits. The company began to enter foreign markets and introduced new writing instruments. BIC diversified its activities by launching the BIC® lighter in 1973, the BIC® shaver in 1975, and BIC Sport sailboard in 1981. Since its founding, BIC has built its success on a clear vision of making top-quality affordable BIC® products available to everyone. The BIC® brand is recognized the world over, and is synonymous with functionality, affordability, and universality. {{http://www.thedesignencyclopedia.org/_a/i/49049700_9959ee4377_m.jpg}} ==== Timeline ==== 1945 | [[Marcel Bich]], who had been the production manager for a French ink manufacturer, buys a factory outside Paris and sets up business with his partner, [[Edouard Buffard]], as a maker of fountain pen parts and mechanical lead pencils. He sees the enormous potential of a ballpoint pen that offers both quality and value.\\ \\ 1950 | Marcel Bich introduces his ballpoint pen in Europe, which he calls “BIC” a shortened, easy-to-remember version of his own name.\\ \\ 1956 | BIC begins operations outside of Europe and opens in [[Brazil]]. BIC launches the M10 Clic retractable ballpoint pen.\\ \\ 1958 | Recognizing the universal appeal that a mass-produced ballpoint pen has, Marcel Bich turns his attention to the vast [[United States]] market and buys the Waterman Pen Company in Seymour, Connecticut. BIC also starts its development in Africa and the Middle East. In 1963, Waterman-BIC moves to its present site in Milford, Connecticut, which is today the headquarters of BIC Corporation.\\ \\ 1959 | Swedish ball pen company Ballograf® is acquired.\\ \\ 1965 | BIC enters the Japanese market.\\ \\ 1969 | BIC offers in the United States a line of diverse promotional BIC® products for the corporate advertising and gift business. This activity is now handled by [[BIC Graphic USA]].\\ \\ 1972 | BIC becomes a publicly traded company on the Paris Stock Exchange on November 15th.\\ \\ 1973 | BIC diversifies its activities by launching the BIC® Lighter with adjustable flame. With its quality and reliability, it becomes a major success.\\ \\ 1975 | Not content to just revolutionize the writing and lighting habits of the world, BIC also launches a one-piece shaver that offers a quality shave at a fraction of the price of more traditional systems. BIC® Shavers now have a leading market share among one-piece shavers.\\ \\ 1979 | [[Conté]]®, French pencils and felt pens, is acquired.\\ \\ 1981 | Recognizing the growth in the leisure industry, BIC begins a subsidiary called BIC Sport, which markets sailboards. Today BIC Sailboards are the number one selling sailboard in the world.\\ \\ 1985 | BIC launches its BIC® Mini lighter.\\ \\ 1992 | BIC acquires Wite-Out® Products, Inc. and prepares to launch a complete line under the Wite-Out® Brand. BIC launches the Softfeel® Ball Pen.\\ \\ 1997 | BIC acquires Tipp-Ex®, Europe’s leading brand of correction products, and Sheaffer, a worldwide brand of premium writing instruments. BIC Graphic Europe offers a line of diverse promotional BIC® products for the corporate advertising and gift business.\\ \\ 1998 | BIC introduces more than 10 stationery products including the BIC® NS Fine, Wide Body™, M.V.P Erasable™ ball pens, Great Erase™ and Softsider™ mechanical pencils, the Softfeel Bold™ permanent marker, and Wite-Out® brand correction tape. The company also launches the BIC® Spicy Mini electronic lighter with striking colors, the SureStart® child-resistant utility lighter, and BIC® Plus™ shavers. From 1998 until 2003, CITROEN, the famous French car manufacturer, launched in partnership with BIC, a limited edition of the SAXO model: the Saxo BIC.\\ \\ 1999 | BIC launches more new stationery products including BIC® Cristal Grip™, Round Stic Grip™, Atlantis™, and Softfeel® Jumbo ballpens, Softfeel® Rollers, Softfeel® Finestyle, as well as the Tipp-Ex® Mini Pocket Mouse™. The twin blade shaver BIC® Softwin™, launches in Greece and Italy, featuring a unique pivoting head, as well as two lubricating strips and a rubberized handle.\\ \\ 2000 | The Marne-La-Vallée (France) state of the art writing instruments factory opens. BIC launches a wide variety of new products: ball pens with added features such as BIC® Cristal™ Colors, Sensi® Grip, Intensity™ gel ink roller, Technolight™ free ink pocket highlighter, a new foam applicator for correction fluid, and Tipp-Ex® Shake’n Squeeze correction pen. The BIC® Softwin™ shaver is introduced in new countries, including the US in March and France in May.\\ \\ 2001 | BIC continues to launch new products in the stationery business (BIC® CRISTAL® Pocket, e.3, CONTE® Triangular PLASTIDECOR®), the BIC® Megalighter and the BIC® COMFORT TWIN one-piece shaver. BIC increases its presence in Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. BIC divestes the GUY LAROCHE fashion business, and continues streamlining of stationery business.\\ \\ 2002 | Bic continues to build on the strength of its classic products, bringing them to new markets and launch new value added products such as BIC® CRISTAL® GRIP and VELOCITY® ballpoint pens, BIC® Z4™, GRIP ROLLER, INTENSITY™ PASTEL, INTENSITY™ METALLIC, INTENSITY™ FLUO and INTENSITY™ CLIC rollers; CONTE EVOLUTION® TRIANGLE color pencil; TIPP-EX®/BIC® WITE-OUT® EXACT LINER™ correction tape; BIC® Styl’it lighter case; BIC® SPORT kayak.\\ \\ 2003 | Bic continues to grow their geographic presence and offer higher-quality products at a fair price to consumers. Launch of Cristal Pocket Scents™ and Orange™ Grip ballpoint pens, Cristal® Gel and Velocity® Gel rollers, Permanent Marker Grip, Atlantis™ and BIC Matic Fun mechanical pencils, and TIPP-EX® Micro Tape mini correction tape. The Luminere lighter enlarges the multi-purpose lighter range. Launch of the first BIC® triple-blade shaver: Comfort 3™.\\ \\ 2004 | Bic introduces new products with a more contemporary design, like the Flip Your BIC™ gel ink roller, the Z4™ Handwriting / Z4™ Bold felt tip pen, the Z4™ highlighter or the BIC® Velleda® Grip dry wipe marker ; Bic also improves the writing smoothness of its classics. Bic reinforces its partnership with [[Disney]] by launching Disney Magic Artist BIC® full range of coloring products; CONTE® coloring products are progressively commercialized under BIC® KIDS brand. In shaver, Bic launch the first triple-blade in the one-piece segment specifically designed for women: BIC® Soleil. BIC Sport enlarges its kayak range.