Copic
Copic, a brand of the Too Group founded in 1987 in Tokyo, manufactures professional alcohol-based refillable graphic markers in 358 colors serving creative professionals, illustrators, manga artists, architects, students, and hobbyists across 70+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Copic does
Copic is an art materials brand founded in 1987 by the Too Group in Tokyo, Japan, and operated by Too Marker Products Inc. The company specializes in professional-quality, alcohol-based, refillable graphic markers available in 358 colors under a systematic color-coding scheme, with distinct product lines including Copic Sketch (flagship professional marker with a Super Brush nib), Copic Ciao (entry-level marker for students and beginners), Copic Classic (the original 1987 marker targeted at designers and architects), Copic Wide, and Copic acrea (pigment-based paint markers). The portfolio also spans Copic Multiliner, Multiliner Plus, Multiliner SP, and Gasenfude drawing pens, refill inks, replacement nibs, an airbrush system, opaque white, paper products, sketchbooks, storage cases, and the Copic Collection mobile app for managing marker inventories.
The underlying technology is built around alcohol-based ink chemistry combined with a refillable marker architecture and a proprietary Super Brush nib featured on the bestselling lines. Copic distributes through owned online stores in Japan (Too Tools Shop) and the US (copic.too.com), a global authorized retailer network accessible via a store locator, and dedicated tools shops, reaching creative professionals, illustrators, manga artists, architects, students, and hobbyists across more than 70 countries.
The business model is anchored on hardware sales of markers and drawing pens, with a recurring consumables revenue layer from refill inks, replacement nibs, and accessories. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by channel and geography, but the positioning is premium with tiered offerings across professional (Sketch, Classic), introductory (Ciao), and consumable (Ink, Nibs) lines. Go-to-market is community-led: the annual COPIC AWARD global art competition, YouTube tutorials, Copic Online School, Instagram, TikTok, and a collaborations page drive acquisition and retention among creative users.
Copic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Copic
- Legal name
- Too Marker Products Inc.
- Website
- https://copicmarker.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Copic, a brand of the Too Group founded in 1987 in Tokyo, manufactures professional alcohol-based refillable graphic markers in 358 colors serving creative professionals, illustrators, manga artists, architects, students, and hobbyists across 70+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Copic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Copic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Marker Sales: Sale of professional quality alcohol-based graphic markers including Copic Sketch, Ciao, Classic, and Wide product lines
- Consumables (Ink & Nibs): Refill inks, replacement nibs, and colorless blender for ongoing use and maintenance of markers
- Accessories & Paper Products: Sale of sketchbooks, paper selections, coasters, storage cases, and other art-related accessories
- Drawing Pens: Multiliner series pens, drawing pens, and specialty brushes like Gasenfude Brush Pen
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Copic Sketch - Professional graphic marker with Super Brush nib |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Copic Ciao - Entry-level marker for students and beginners |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Copic Classic - Original iconic marker from 1987 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Copic Ink - Refill ink bottles |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Copic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Copic designs, manufactures, and sells professional quality alcohol-based, refillable graphic markers available in 358 colors under multiple product lines (Copic Sketch, Ciao, Classic, Wide, acrea). The portfolio also includes Copic Multiliner drawing pens, refill inks, replacement nibs, an airbrush system, opaque white, paper products, sketchbooks, storage cases, and the Copic Collection mobile app for managing marker collections. Products are sold globally through the brand's own online stores and authorized retailers in more than 70 countries.
Product overview
Copic is a professional quality art materials brand of the Too Group, based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1987. The product portfolio centers on alcohol-based, refillable graphic markers available in 358 colors, sold under distinct lines including Copic Sketch (flagship professional marker with Super Brush nib), Copic Ciao (economical introductory marker), and Copic Classic (original 1987 marker for designers/architects). Additional marker variants include Copic Wide and Copic acrea (pigment-based paint markers with 24 opaque shades). The ecosystem includes Copic Multiliner drawing pens (Plus, Standard, SP variants), Copic Ink refills, Copic Airbrush System, and various paper products, storage solutions, and maintenance tools. The brand is used by creative professionals in design, illustration, fine art, and manga in over 70 countries worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Copic Sketch: Bestselling graphic marker used by creative professionals in design, illustration and fine art. Features flexible Super Brush and Medium Broad nibs, refillable with ergonomic oval design and color coded caps.
- Copic Ciao
- Copic Classic
- Copic Wide
- Copic acrea
- Copic Multiliner
- Copic Multiliner Plus
- Copic Ink
Products and services
- Copic Sketch Bestselling graphic marker used by creative professionals in design, illustration, and fine art. Features flexible Super Brush and Medium Broad nibs, refillable with ergonomic oval design and color-coded caps.
- Copic Ciao Versatile introductory graphic marker ideal for students and beginners. More economical thanks to simpler design and lower ink content, featuring the same premium Super Brush and Medium Broad nibs as Sketch and refillable ink system.
- Copic Classic Original iconic graphic marker launched in 1987 and used primarily by designers and architects. Features Medium Broad and Fine nibs ideal for design renderings and precise details. Refillable with ergonomic square design and color-coded caps.
- Copic Wide Wide-format graphic marker variant within the Copic marker lineup.
- Copic acrea Water and pigment-based paint markers with 24 opaque shades. Flawless in use, fully opaque on any surface.
- Copic Multiliner Plus Drawing pen featuring waterproof and alcohol-resistant water-based pigment ink. Available in a wide range of nib sizes and colors.
- Copic Multiliner Sketching and drawing pen allowing for incredible detail, utilizing water and alcohol-resistant pigment-based ink ideal for use with Copic markers. Available in a variety of sizes, colors, and also in Brush style.
- Copic Gasenfude Brush Pen Brush pen within the Copic drawing pen lineup.
- Copic Ink Refill ink for Copic markers that enables quick and mess-free refilling, reduces waste, and makes marker use more economical. With the Copic Ink Empty bottle users can mix and create their own unique colors.
- Copic Airbrush System Airbrush system that allows users to create airbrush effects by simply attaching a marker. Includes Airbrush Set, Single Items, and Air Can.
- Copic Sets Expertly curated sets bundling Copic Sketch, Ciao, and Classic markers for various use cases.
- Copic Collection App Dedicated mobile app to manage Copic marker collections. Available on Apple App Store and Google Play.
Companies that use Copic
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Copic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Copic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Copic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tombow: Japanese art and stationery maker that sells the ABT PRO alcohol-based marker line as a direct premium alternative to Copic, especially in Asian and US markets.
- Sakura of America: Sakura's Pigma Micron pens, Koi markers, and Color products overlap with Copic's drawing-pen (Multiliner) and watercolor brush marker offerings in the professional illustration channel.
- Prismacolor: Prismacolor (owned by Newell Brands) makes Premier and Sketch alcohol-based markers with broad color ranges and is Copic's most direct head-to-head competitor in the professional dual-tip marker category.
- POSCA (Mitsubishi Pencil Company): POSCA paint markers from Mitsubishi Pencil compete with Copic acrea in the paint-marker niche and overlap in the same illustration, manga, and street-art creator segments.
Broad incumbents
- Winsor & Newton: Heritage British fine-art brand whose Professional Marker range competes with Copic Sketch at the high end while serving a much broader paint, paper, and brush portfolio.
- Staedtler: German premium art and writing instruments maker; its Triplus and pigment liner ranges compete with Copic in professional illustration while Staedtler serves broader stationery markets.
- Faber-Castell: Global art supplies leader with Pitt Artist Pens and Albrecht Dürer markers that overlap with Copic's pen and marker lines, though Faber-Castell's portfolio spans pencils, color, and children's art at much greater scale.
- Sharpie (Newell Brands): Mass-market permanent marker leader; while not a direct premium competitor, Sharpie sets the consumer baseline expectation for marker performance and pricing that frames Copic's premium positioning.
Emerging players
- Arteza: DTC art supplies brand with alcohol-based EverBlend marker sets positioned as a value alternative to Copic, with growing penetration in US hobby and education channels.
- Ohuhu: Amazon-native brand selling affordable alcohol-based dual-tip marker sets (80-168 colors) that directly undercut Copic on price in the hobbyist and student segment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Copic social profiles
Digital presenceCopic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Copic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Copic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Copic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Copic
What does Copic do?
Copic designs, manufactures, and sells professional quality alcohol-based, refillable graphic markers available in 358 colors under multiple product lines (Copic Sketch, Ciao, Classic, Wide, acrea). The portfolio also includes Copic Multiliner drawing pens, refill inks, replacement nibs, an airbrush system, opaque white, paper products, sketchbooks, storage cases, and the Copic Collection mobile app for managing marker collections. Products are sold globally through the brand's own online stores and authorized retailers in more than 70 countries.
Is Copic a public or private company?
Copic is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Copic founded?
Copic was founded in 1987. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Copic based?
Copic is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Copic make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Marker Sales are the primary driver. The others are consumables (Ink & Nibs), accessories & Paper Products and drawing Pens.
Who are Copic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tombow, Sakura of America, Prismacolor and POSCA (Mitsubishi Pencil Company). Broad incumbents are Winsor & Newton, Staedtler, Faber-Castell and Sharpie (Newell Brands). Emerging players are Arteza and Ohuhu.
Does Copic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Copic.