All About BIC Pens > The History of the BIC Pen

BIC got started in 1945 when Marcel Bich and Edouard Buffard began manufacturing fountain pens in France. By 1950, the company was named "BIC" and the BIC Cristal ballpoint pen was introduced in France. In 1958, BIC came to the U.S. market acquiring the Waterman Pen organization.

By 1969, BIC pens had expanded through more areas of Europe, parts of Asia, Mexico, the Middle East and Africa and the company had created a strong following for its imprinted products. With its ever growing expertise in imprinting, BIC began to create products including the BIC lighter, shaver and white-out.

In 1997 BIC continued to increase its product offerings by acquiring the Sheaffer Pen Corporation to compete in the luxury fountain pen market, followed by the acqusition of Atchison Products Inc. in 2007 which allowed BIC to become a dominant market force in the promtional and personalized bag marketplace. Identifying new opportunties, BIC purchased Norwood Promotional Products, the 2nd largest supplier of non-apparel promotional products in the United States.

Throughout its history, BIC has maintained as a core values a prominent involvement in promoting social responsibility through its operations and products. With BIC's aggressive use of recycled and renewable materials, BIC has maintained a leadership position in manufacturing environmentally friendly products including as custom pens, logo pencils, promotional lighters, and personalized bags.