What Pacific Arc Inc does

Pacific Arc Inc, founded in 1979, is a family-owned wholesale distributor of art, drafting, architectural, design, and fine art supplies headquartered in Texas and serving the United States domestic market. Its portfolio spans studio hardware (bamboo and aluminum easels accommodating canvas sizes from 20" to 89", drawing boards, sketch boards, tool boxes, storage tubes, vinyl board covers, and mesh bags), precision measuring instruments (rulers, triangular scales, T-squares, parallel bars, protractors, French curves), professional drafting instruments (Elite Pro Series compasses, dividers, ruling pens, and beam compasses sourced from Germany), drawing and writing implements (Maxxliners, Blackliners, mechanical pencils, lead holders, graphite, charcoal, pastels, erasers, sharpeners), and PT-Series templates for drafting and design use. Pre-assembled Art & Drafting Kits are offered with custom kit assembly at no extra charge.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining B2B wholesale with retailers, distributors, and large organizations, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce through shop.pacificarc.us. A wholesale ordering portal at orders.pacificarc.us supports retailer accounts with bulk discounts, and the company runs dedicated email, telephone, and customer service channels. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; wholesale onboarding runs through a credit application. Channel partners include national and regional art supply retailers such as Dick Blick Art Materials, Jerry's Artarama, Texas Art Supply, Art Supply Warehouse, Drafting Supplies Dew, and Art Center, and customer segments span education, organizations, retail stores, distributors, professional artists, and hobbyists.

The company does not develop proprietary technology platforms; its competencies are product design, international sourcing, and distribution. There are no patent, AI, or software assets, no disclosed funding, no M&A activity, and no public listings. Headcount is reported in the 1-10 range. Marketing is supported by a multi-platform social media presence (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube) and an annually refreshed product catalog, with a 2026 catalog and price list currently under development.

Name

Pacific Arc Inc

Legal name

Pacific Arc Inc

Website

https://pacificarc.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pacific Arc Inc, founded in 1979, is a family-owned Texas-based wholesale distributor of art, drafting, and architectural supplies, selling through retail partners including Dick Blick and Jerry's Artarama, plus a direct e-commerce storefront, serving retailers, distributors, schools, and professional and hobbyist artists across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art and Drafting Supplies

NAICS

Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Office Supplies and Stationery Retailers (459410)

SIC

Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950)

akta.pro primary industry

Art & Drafting Supplies Retail (CRALABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail (CRALACAA), Fine Art Materials Retail (Paint, Canvas, Drawing) (CRALACAB), Crafting Tools & Equipment Retail (Cutting, Adhesives, Heat Tools) (CRALACAC)

Keywords

• Drafting supplies wholesale
• Architectural drawing tools
• Studio art materials
• Fine art supplies distribution
• Drafting instruments manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution: Pacific Arc generates revenue primarily through wholesale distribution of drafting, architectural, and art supplies to retailers, distributors, and organizations across the United States.
2. Direct E-commerce Sales: The company operates its own online storefront (shop.pacificarc.us) for direct-to-consumer sales of art and drafting supplies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pacific Arc develops, sources, and distributes quality drafting, drawing, architectural, design, and fine art materials under its own brand. Its catalog spans studio hardware (bamboo and aluminum easels, drawing boards), precision measuring instruments (T-squares, parallel bars, triangular scales, rulers), German-made professional drafting instruments (Elite Pro Series compasses, dividers, ruling pens, beam compasses), drawing and writing tools, templates, cutting tools, and pre-assembled kits. The company sells wholesale to retailers, distributors, schools, and organizations and directly to consumers through its own online store.

Product overview

Pacific Arc Inc offers a comprehensive portfolio of drafting, drawing, architectural, design, and fine art materials. The product line centers on core studio hardware (Bamboo and Aluminum Easels in various formats accommodating canvas from 20" to 89"), precision measuring instruments (ATQ-Series aluminum T-squares, P10-Series Professional Parallel Bars, 98-Series triangular aluminum scales, CSR-Series gridded centering rulers, traditional rulers, scales, protractors, and French curves), professional drafting instruments (Elite Pro Series made in Germany including SPRINGBOW, SPEEDBOW, JETBOW compasses, dividers, ruling pens, and beam compasses), drawing and writing tools (Maxxliners, Blackliners, mechanical pencils, lead holders, graphite, charcoal, pastels, and erasers), cutting and shaping tools (sharpening tools, cutting mats, knives, scissors), PT-Series templates for various design applications, and Art & Drafting Kits (Artisan Series, Essentials Series, Architecture Kit DKB-1A, and Engineering Kit DKB-1E). The company also offers bamboo tool boxes (Coleto, Salado, Zacate), storage tubes, and protective covers. Founded in 1979, Pacific Arc sources products from manufacturers worldwide including Germany and Poland. Custom kit assembly is available at no extra charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bamboo Easels Full line of studio easels crafted entirely from renewable bamboo, including lyre-style, H-style, single mast, French box, and pastel/watercolor formats accommodating canvas sizes from 21" to 89". Targeted at professional and hobbyist artists, schools, and studios.
• Aluminum Easels Lightweight aluminum easels including table-top, field, and studio models weighing 0.7 to 7 lbs and accommodating canvas from 20" to 47" tall, for artists and field workers needing portable studio setups.
• ATQ-Series Ludwig T-Squares Aluminum T-squares extruded from aircraft-grade aluminum with plastic heads, graduated in 16ths out to 4 inches, available in 12", 18", 24", 30", 36", and 48" sizes; made in Poland. Targeted at professional drafters, architects, engineers, and students.
• P10-Series Professional Parallel Bar Professional parallel bar constructed from rigid phenolic plastic with matte aluminum trim, featuring frictionless nylon floating rollers and raised clear acrylic edges to prevent paper smearing; available in 30", 36", 42", and 48". Targeted at professional drafting studios.
• 98-Series Triangular Aluminum Scales Extruded anodized aluminum triangular scales with permanently etched graduations in architects (3/32 to 1 inch per foot) and engineers (10 to 60 parts per inch) formats; made in Germany; available in 4" and 12" sizes. Targeted at architects, engineers, and drafting professionals.
• CSR-Series Gridded Centering Rulers Clear acrylic rulers with 1/8" grid over the entire surface, fully divided to 1/16" on both edges with centering rule in middle; available in 12" and 18" sizes for layout, centering, and grid-based work.
• PS-96 Graphic Arts Ruler Laser-cut acrylic ruler 3" wide by 12" long with multiple graduations including pica, point, printers ruler, visual E scale, 1/16", and leading gauge. Targeted at graphic artists and print production professionals.
• PT-Series Templates Template collection covering circles, ellipses, architectural symbols, plumbing fixtures, landscape design, flowcharting, lettering, and surveying; designed for architects, designers, drafters, and engineers.
• Elite Pro Series Drafting Instruments Professional-grade drafting instruments made in Germany including SPRINGBOW, SPEEDBOW, JETBOW compasses, friction dividers, ruling pens with oval blade, and beam compasses in plain or graduated configurations. Targeted at professional architects, engineers, and advanced drafting students.
• Drawing Boards and Sketch Boards Professional drawing boards for drafting work and portable sketch boards with securing straps for field use. Targeted at drafters, architects, artists, and students.
• Bamboo Tool Boxes Solid bamboo tool boxes in three sizes — Coleto (13" x 7" x 2"), Salado (13" x 8" x 3"), and Zacate (14" x 11" x 4") — with brass locks and interior compartments, designed for storing and transporting art and drafting tools.
• Rulers (Steel, Plastic, Wood) Complete line of rulers including clear acrylic rulers (12", 18", 24"), Easy Grip rulers with raised center spine, Metal Edge Graphic Arts rulers (15"), and Classic Hardwood rulers with metal edges (12" to 36") for drafting, drawing, and design work.
• Protractors 6" 180° protractors and General Purpose Protractor templates for angle measurement in drafting and technical drawing.
• French Curves Traditional French curves for drawing smooth irregular curves in drafting, fashion, and design work.
• Maxxliners Art Markers Colored art markers and pens available in multiple colors including Sienna, Tuscan red, Indigo, Olive green, Dark brown, Black, and Colorless Blender, for illustration and design work.
• Blackliner Pens Fineline art pens in various tip sizes for detailed drawing and illustration work.
• Mechanical Pencils and Lead Holders Professional mechanical pencils and 2mm lead holders with refill lead for precise drawing and technical drafting.
• Graphite Pencils

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Texas Art SupplyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner retail location where Pacific Arc products are sold. Customers can find Pacific Arc drafting and art supplies at this retailer.
• Jerry's ArtaramaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner retail location where Pacific Arc products are sold. Major art supply retailer carrying Pacific Arc product lines.
• Dick Blick Art MaterialsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner retail location where Pacific Arc products are sold. National art supply retailer with Pacific Arc inventory.
• Art Supply WarehouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner retail location where Pacific Arc products are available for purchase.
• Drafting Supplies DewminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner retailer specializing in drafting supplies that carries Pacific Arc products.
• Art CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner retailer where Pacific Arc drafting and art supplies are available.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alvin & Company: Long-standing US manufacturer and distributor of T-squares, triangles, parallel rulers, drafting tables, and precision drawing tools. The most direct head-to-head competitor to Pacific Arc in classic drafting furniture and instruments for the architecture/engineering school market.
• Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth: Czech manufacturer of artist and drafting pencils, including the Toison d'Or and Hardtmuth lines. Overlaps with Pacific Arc's graphite pencils, charcoal, and lead holders, serving schools, art students, and professional artists.
• Tombow Mono: Japanese manufacturer of high-quality pencils, erasers (Mono brand), and fineliner/marker pens. Overlaps with Pacific Arc's mechanical pencils, lead holders, Maxxliners/Blackliners, and erasers in both art and drafting supply channels.
• Faber-Castell: Global German-Brazilian maker of artist pencils, graphite sets, erasers, and compass kits (Castell and TK-System). Comparable on fine-art materials, school graphite pencils, and mechanical pencils competing with Pacific Arc's pencil and eraser categories.
• Staedtler: German manufacturer of professional drawing pencils, compasses (Mars series), leads, and fineliners. Direct competition with Pacific Arc's Elite Pro Series compasses and Maxxliner/Blackliner pens, especially in the professional drafting channel.
• Chartpak Inc. Massachusetts-based specialty maker of graphics and drafting products (templates, lettering guides, pickett rulers, drafting furniture). Competes directly with Pacific Arc's PT-Series templates, PS-96 Graphic Arts Ruler, and CSR centering rulers.
• Helix Group: UK-based manufacturer of mathematical and drafting instruments including compasses, protractors, and geometry sets. Direct peer to Pacific Arc in the schools and student-grade drafting instruments segment.

Broad incumbents

• Elmer's Products (X-Acto): Newell Brands-owned mass-market supplier of cutting mats, X-Acto precision knives, and craft adhesives. Direct competition with Pacific Arc's cutting mats, knives, scissors, and tape/adhesives categories, though broader portfolio with school/office staples.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwbn51avTMKjVlV9W76gTww
• Facebookfacebook.com/pacificarc
• Instagraminstagram.com/pacific.arc/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@pacific.arc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-arc-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Arc Inc