Biro

The Groupe Biro is a founded listed company on October 25th 1944, whose head office is located at Clichy in France. The Entreprise is mainly recognized for its pens that it markets under the mark Bic , Bic Kids or Conté , but it also produced razors and boards of surfing.

History

October 25th, 1944, the company PPP (Penholder, Propelling pencils and Accessories) begins in France; Marcel Bich is president DG and Edouart Buffard the Director of the production.

In 1950 the ball point pen Cristal is launched.

To be able to sell it correctly and to be different, the company takes the name BIRO in 1953. BIRO is a version shortened and easily identifiable and pronounceable in all the languages of the name Bich.

International expansion

In 1954, the company is established in Italy, in 1956 in Brazil, 1957 in the United Kingdom, in Australia, in New Zealand and Scandinavia, 1958 in the United States and the Middle East. In 1959 it takes again Ballograf, Scandinavian company of ball-points and pencils. BIRO arrives to Asia in 1997. Today BIRO is present on the five continents, in more than 160 countries.

Articles of paper mill

BIRO develops a complete line of articles of writing (ball point pens, rollers, felts, propelling pencils, surligneurs, markers, pencils graphite). It acquires in 1979 the company Conté, a mark of products of drawing and coloring. It takes again into 1992 in the United States the Wipe-Out mark and in Europe the Tipp-Ex mark in 1997, in order to develop a range of articles of correction and deleting. The group buys in 1997 the mark Sheaffer, manufacturer of articles of top-of-the-range writing (pens with feather, ball point pens, propelling pencils) and in 2004, Stypen, French manufacturer of pen-feather.

Lighters

In 1972, BIRO diversifies its activity and markets its first lighter. It is a lighter with adjustable flame. The range increases with the marketing of models of different lighters (mini size and slim), of decorated lighters and lighters with electronic ignition. In 2000, BIRO launches a range of utility lighters intended for the lighting of the candles, barbecues, chimneys, etc and cases for lighters in 2002.

Perfumes

About 1988, Bic tries to penetrate in the market of perfumery, by selling small bottles of perfume, in the tobacco shops, it was a failure, primarily due to the fact that the image of the luxury and seduction, related to the perfumes does not go hand in hand with the disposable products, the perfumes were withdrawn in 1991.

Razors

In 1975, BIRO launches its first razor. It is a single-blade razor, nonrefillable. The company develops then a range of single-blade razors and thermal switches, for men and women, with or without lubricating bands, with head fixed or swivelling. In 2003 and 2004, BIRO successively launches a razor 3 blades for men then for women.

The logo BIRO

The first logo of the company goes back to 1950. The letters BIRO are inserted in a round red parallelogram.

In 1952 the poster artist Raymond Savignac begins his collaboration with BIRO and creates the publicity campaign " It runs, it runs, the BIC" Point;. In 1961, it is at the origin of the creation of the small catch BIRO within the framework of a new publicity campaign. This character representing a small schoolboy with head of ball carrying a pen in his back was intended to draw the attention of the children.

The logo such as there exists today is created the year according to, in 1962. The schoolboy is placed in front of the three letters BIRO and the yellow and the black become the traditional colors of the logo.

Trades

BIRO manufactures and markets articles of paper mill, lighters and razors. The company is also diversified in the articles of sliding sports watery (subsidiary company BIRO Sport for the boards of surfing and the boards with veil in particular) and in the marked promotional objects (subsidiary BIRO Graphic). It is a multinational group established on the 5 continents.

Management of the firm

Board of trustees

Board of directors

Executive committee

Financial data

Stock exchange data

  • Principal shareholders:
    • (2005): Floating 32,2%, Family Bich 41,4%, Silchester 10,1%, Templeton 7,0%, CDC Ixis 5,0%, Mrs. E. Buffard 4,3%.
    • Share quoted at the market of bets under code “BB” or FR0000120966)

Chronology

See too

Related article

Catalog of films

  • Danielle Schirman, the Biro Crystal , documentary televised series Design , France, 2004; 1st French diffusion, Arte, October 2005.

External bond

  • Official site

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