What BIC does

BIC (Société BIC) is a French public consumer goods company founded in 1944 by Marcel Bich and Édouard Buffard, manufacturing and distributing stationery, lighters, and shavers globally. Core technical capabilities include precision ballpoint pen manufacturing (tungsten carbide ball with 70+ quality controls per pen, providing up to 3 km of writing), zinc alloy die casting for lighters (precision to hundredths of a millimeter), and proprietary razor technologies including moveable blade and EasyRinse anti-clogging systems, all triple-ISO-certified across shaver production facilities. The company operates across more than 160 countries with 14,000+ employees, manufacturing 23.7 million products daily through facilities including the Montevrain pen plant in France and the new Clichy headquarters opened in June 2022. The portfolio centers on three product pillars: Human Expression (BIC Cristal, M10, 4-Color pens; BIC Kids; Tipp-Ex and Wite-Out correction products), Flame for Life (BIC Maxi, EZ Reach, EZ Load, and Djeep lighters), and Blade Excellence (BIC Flex, Soleil, EasyRinse razors, plus the Flex 5 Trim & Shave hybrid grooming tool launched in 2026).

The business model centers on mass-market unit pricing of branded consumer products sold through major retail partners (Walmart, Amazon), regional retailers, BIC's own e-commerce platforms (shop.bic.com launched 2015), and an extensive global distributor network. Revenue streams are diversified across five primary segments: stationery (pens, pencils, markers, correction), lighters (disposable and reloadable), shavers and grooming, branded consumer products (including Tangle Teezer), and adjacent acquired categories. The company has historically pursued bolt-on acquisitions to extend into adjacent categories (Tipp-Ex 1997, Wite-Out 1992, Cello India 2015, Djeep/Rocketbook/AMI 2020, Inkbox/Tattly 2022, Tangle Teezer 2024), while recent strategic reviews have led to the divestiture of Cello India (October 2025), PIMACO (2020), BIC Sport (2019), and the discontinuation of Rocketbook and Skin Creative activities (December 2025) to refocus on the three core categories.

Customer segments span students and educators (BIC Kids and back-to-school campaigns with Kids In Need Foundation), general consumers (writing, lighter, and personal grooming use cases), and regional growth markets (notably Nigeria under General Manager Anthony Amahwe's leadership and broader Africa expansion). Distribution runs through more than 160 countries with active subsidiaries in Lagos (2019), Nairobi (2018), Abidjan (2022), and Abu Dhabi (2012) supporting emerging-market reach. The current leadership team reflects an active generational and operational transition: Rob Versloot was appointed CEO in 2025, Grégory Lambertie as CFO & Digital Officer effective January 5, 2026, and Gonzalve Bich's family retains board influence through Non-Executive Chair Édouard Bich and multiple family directors.

Name

BIC

Legal name

Société BIC

Website

https://corporate.bic.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

BIC is a French public consumer goods company manufacturing and distributing affordable ballpoint pens, lighters, and disposable razors across more than 160 countries, serving students, general consumers, and grooming users through mass retail partners including Walmart and Amazon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Clichy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Stationery Products: BIC generates revenue through the sale of ballpoint pens, pencils, markers, correction products, and coloring supplies. Core products include BIC Cristal, BIC 4-Color, M10 retractable pen, and specialized stationery under brands like Wite-Out and Tipp-Ex.
2. Lighters: Revenue from disposable and multi-purpose lighters including BIC Maxi, BIC Mini, EZ Reach, and EZ Load (reloadable) lighters. Products provide up to 3,000 lights for standard lighters and up to 15,000 lights for reloadable EZ Load.
3. Shavers and Grooming Products: Revenue from disposable razors for men and women including BIC Flex, Soleil, and the new Flex 5 Trim & Shave 2-in-1 grooming device. Products include both manual and specialized grooming tools.
4. Branded Consumer Products: Revenue from various branded consumer products including Tangle Teezer hairbrushes, BIC Kids products, and licensed collaborations. Products sold through retail partners and direct-to-consumer channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BIC manufactures and sells affordable, high-quality everyday consumer essentials including ballpoint pens, mechanical pencils, correction products, colored pencils, and markers under brands like BIC Cristal, BIC M10, BIC 4-Color, Wite-Out, Tipp-Ex, and BIC Kids. The company also produces and sells disposable and reloadable pocket lighters (BIC Maxi, EZ Reach, EZ Load, Djeep) and disposable razors and grooming tools (BIC Flex, Soleil, EasyRinse, Flex 5 Trim & Shave), along with acquired premium haircare brushes (Tangle Teezer), distributing these products in more than 160 countries.

Product overview

BIC is a world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers offering high-quality, affordable, essential products. The product portfolio centers on three core categories: Human Expression (stationery including BIC Cristal, M10, and 4-Color pens; correction products like Wite-Out and Tipp-Ex; BIC Kids and Evolution sustainable pencils), Flame for Life (lighters including Maxi, EZ Reach, EZ Load, and acquired Djeep brand), and Blade Excellence (razors including Flex, Soleil, EasyRinse, and the new Flex 5 Trim & Shave grooming tool). BIC has expanded through acquisitions into adjacent markets including Tangle Teezer (haircare), Skin Creative products (BodyMark, Inkbox, Tattly - now discontinued), digital writing (Rocketbook - discontinued), and augmented technology (AMI). The company operates across 160+ countries with over 14,000 team members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BIC Kids: Drawing and coloring tools for children
• BIC Cristal
• BIC 4-Color
• Tipp-Ex
• Wite-Out
• Djeep
• EZ Load
• EZ Reach
• BIC Flex
• Soleil
• Tangle Teezer
• BodyMark by BIC
• Inkbox
• Tattly
• Rocketbook
• Lucky
• Conté
• BIC Graphic
• Intensity
• BIC Blade Tech
• AMI

Products and services

• BIC Cristal Iconic ballpoint pen with precision tungsten carbide ball, provides up to 3 km of writing, with over 70 quality controls during manufacturing. Entered MoMA and Centre Pompidou permanent collections.
• BIC M10 Retractable ballpoint pen with signature click mechanism, delivers smooth writing for up to 2 kilometers. Pastel edition contains 49% recycled plastic. Manufactured in France and South Africa. Celebrating 70th anniversary in 2026.
• BIC 4-Color Multi-color ballpoint pen with four ink colors in one pen, popular for organization and creative expression.
• BIC Maxi Lighter Full-size pocket lighter providing up to 3,000 lights. Subject to over 50 automatic quality and security checks before leaving factory. 100% of BIC pocket lighters meet or exceed international standards (ISO 9994, EN13869, ASTM F400, US CPSC).
• BIC EZ Reach Lighter Multi-purpose pocket lighter with extended wand for lighting hard-to-reach places while keeping fingers away from flame. Designed for candles, grilling, and holiday use.
• BIC EZ Load Lighter First reloadable multi-purpose lighter offering up to 15,000 lights. Winner of 2025 Product of the Year USA Award.
• BIC Flex 5 Disposable razor line featuring moveable blade technology for shaving comfort. Enhanced blade edge with patent-protected technologies for comfort and durability. Available in sensitive variants with aloe and vitamin E.
• BIC Soleil Women's disposable razor line with global 'Your Time To Shine' campaign. Soleil Click 5 features sustainably designed components. Official razor of the Professional Women's Hockey League.
• BIC EasyRinse Razor with patented EasyRinse anti-clogging technology designed with optimal space between blades for easy rinsing and less irritation, featuring pivoting head for comfortable shave.
• BIC Flex 5 Trim & Shave First-to-market 2-in-1 men's grooming tool combining detachable dual-length precision trimmer (0.5mm and 1.5mm) with five-blade shaving cartridge. Battery-free, water-resistant design, clinically proven for sensitive skin.
• Wite-Out American brand of correction products offering white-out correction fluids and tapes.
• Tipp-Ex Leading European brand of correction products offering correction tapes and fluids.
• BIC Kids Line of drawing and coloring tools for children.
• BIC Evolution Graphite and coloring pencil made with recycled materials.
• BIC Cristal Re'New First refillable metallic ballpoint pen representing sustainable writing innovation.
• BodyMark by BIC Temporary tattoo markers with skin-safe cosmetic formula for skin art.
• Tangle Teezer Premium detangling haircare brushes with strong market presence in Europe and North America.
• Djeep French manufacturer of high-end pocket lighters acquired by BIC in 2020.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of men trim, and 98% of those also shave
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kids In Need Foundation (KINF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Strategic partnership for the 'Bring Joy, BIC to School' campaign. KINF focuses on schools where 70%+ students qualify for free/reduced meals. BIC commits to donate minimum 3 million writing instruments per year through 'Buy a BIC, Give a BIC' program and sponsors KINF's Supply A Teacher Program delivering over 10,000 supply boxes annually.
• WalmartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 May 2026Major retail partner for BIC's 'Bring Joy, BIC to School' campaign. Walmart hosts the Teacher Shopping Spree Sweepstakes and serves as primary retail channel for BIC products including exclusive collections like Inkbox Travis Barker tattoo line.
• SelettiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026Italian design brand collaboration creating the BIC Cristal Lamp at 12:1 scale for 75th anniversary of the iconic pen. Lamp available in floor, wall, and pendant versions at $350 retail price.
• Take Action Global (TAG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2025Global partnership for education and climate action initiatives. 'Writing Our Future, Together' campaign supports climate education for 7 million students worldwide across 181 countries.
• TerraCycleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean partnership for collecting and reusing non-recyclable waste including used writing instruments. Program has been adapted in UAE reaching over 15,000 students and recycling more than 700kg of plastic.
• Creative ActionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner collaborating on BIC Creativity Educator's Guide for primary and secondary schools, providing creativity-boosting activities for educators working with students ages 5-18.
• Creativity Culture & Education (CCE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based international foundation recognized by Harvard's Global Education Innovation Initiative as one of 50 organizations delivering engaging education. Partner for BIC Creativity Educator's Guide.
• FableVision/Reynolds CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston-based organization founded by Peter and Paul Reynolds, creators of International Dot Day reaching 29 million participants in 190+ countries. Partner for BIC Creativity Educator's Guide.
• Macon & LesquoyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench artisanal brand collaboration creating embroidered brooches inspired by the BIC M10 pen for its 70th anniversary, featuring hand-embroidery reinterpretation of the iconic design.
• Boundless (Creative Agency)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSouth African creative agency collaboration for back-to-school campaign 'Let your ink-side out' targeting the South African market with real children's drawings to promote BIC stationery.
• Save the ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support underprivileged students through educational initiatives and product donations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pilot Pen: Pilot is a leading Japanese pen manufacturer (G2, FriXion, Dr. Grip) with strong global distribution. Pilot directly competes with BIC in the ballpoint and gel pen categories and has premium pricing power in developed markets.
• Crayola: Crayola (owned by Hallmark Cards) is the leading children's coloring products brand, directly competing with BIC Kids and Conté product lines. Crayola shares BIC's focus on the back-to-school and family/children segment.
• Faber-Castell: Faber-Castell is a 250+ year-old German stationery brand producing pens, pencils, and art supplies globally. It directly competes with BIC in the coloring, drawing, and writing instruments categories with both premium and mass-market positioning.
• Zippo Manufacturing: Zippo is a leading manufacturer of refillable metal lighters, directly competing with BIC's Maxi, EZ Reach, and Djeep lighter lines. Zippo shares BIC's lighter category focus with a more premium, collectible positioning.
• Pentel: Pentel is a Japanese writing instruments manufacturer known for mechanical pencils, gel pens, and markers. Pentel competes with BIC across global stationery channels and shares similar mass-market pricing strategy.
• Staedtler: Staedtler is a German manufacturer of writing, coloring, and drafting instruments with strong heritage (1835). Staedtler competes directly with BIC in pencils, pens, and art supplies across European and global markets.
• Edgewell Personal Care (Schick): Edgewell owns Schick, Wilkinson Sword, and other shaving brands, directly competing with BIC's Flex and Soleil razor lines. Edgewell is a direct peer in the disposable and system razor market.

Broad incumbents

• Newell Brands: Newell Brands is a large consumer products conglomerate owning Paper Mate, Sharpie, Parker, and Elmer's — directly overlapping with BIC's stationery category. As a broad incumbent, Newell competes across multiple writing/correction categories with BIC in retail channels.
• Procter & Gamble (Gillette): P&G owns Gillette, the global leader in razors and blades, competing directly with BIC's Flex and Soleil lines. As a broad incumbent, P&G also has broader personal care reach that affects BIC's adjacent grooming expansion.
• 3M (Post-it, Scotch): 3M competes with BIC in office/stationery adjacencies (Post-it notes, Scotch tape) and has broader consumer product reach. As a broad incumbent, 3M shares retail shelf space with BIC across mass merchants and office supply stores.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BICGroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/bicbrand
• Facebookfacebook.com/biclightersfr
• Instagraminstagram.com/bic_group
• TikToktiktok.com/@bic

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BIC