Abstract
BIC produces and commercializes stationery products, lighters, shavers, water sports items (BIC sports), and services with promotional items (BIC GRAPHICS). It is a multinational group established in 160 countries, with more than 8400 employees and 24 manufacturing facilities. More than 3,200,000 retail outlets offer BIC products.
BIC was founded in 1953 after Marcel BICH bought and improved a license which led to the creation of a disposable pen. From 1954 to 1957 the company entered foreign markets, primarily by creating subsidiaries and acquiring companies. BIC Italy and BIC Brazil were established in 1954 and 1956, and the company acquired England's Biro Swan Company in 1957. In 1958 BIC bought the Waterman Pen Company in Connecticut, marking BIC's first entry into North America. The company introduced its BIC pens to the US market in the following year. BIC diversified in 1971 when it bought Flaminaire, a French maker of traditional lighters.
In 1973, the company introduced its first disposable BIC lighters with the popular advertising slogan ‘Flick your BIC'. Disposable razors entered BIC's product basket by its single blade razor in 1975. Fashion house Guy Laroche joined the BIC family in 1979. In 1992 the company acquired White-Out Products, a US based manufacturer of correction fluid. Marcel Bich stepped down as chairman and CEO in 1993, and was succeed by Bruno his son. BIC added the Tipp-Ex brand, Europe's leading correction fluid products, in 1997. In the same year the company also acquired Sheaffer, a worldwide manufacturer of upscale writing instruments.
