Sharpie (marker) facts for kids
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| Owner | Newell Brands |
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| Introduced | 1964 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Previous owners | Sanford L.P. (1964–1990) |
Sharpie is a well-known brand that makes many types of writing tools, especially permanent markers. These popular products are made by Newell Brands, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. While Sharpie started with just one type of permanent marker, the brand has grown a lot. Now, you can find the Sharpie name on many different pens and markers, both permanent and non-permanent.
Sharpie markers come with various tips for different uses. These include ultra fine, extra fine, fine, brush, chisel, mini, magnum, and retractable styles. Besides markers, Sharpie also creates highlighter pens, gel pens, rollerball pens, and even acrylic paint markers.
Contents
The Story of Sharpie Markers
Early Beginnings of Sharpie
The very first "Sharpie" was a special permanent marker. It was launched in 1964 by a company called the Sanford Ink Company. This original Sharpie was quite innovative because it was the first permanent marker designed like a pen.
Growing the Sharpie Brand
In 1990, Sharpie became part of a larger company. The Newell Companies, which later became Newell Rubbermaid, bought Sanford. Sanford was a leading company that made and sold writing tools.
Over the years, Sharpie continued to grow. In 2005, the company decided to put its "Accent" highlighter brand under the Sharpie name. That same year, the Sharpie Mini was introduced. This was a smaller marker with a clip, perfect for attaching to a keychain or lanyard.
In 2006, Sharpie brought out markers with a cool new feature: retractable tips. Instead of a cap, you could press a button to make the tip appear or disappear. Sharpie Paint markers also arrived on the market around this time. By 2011, an amazing 200 million Sharpie markers had been sold all over the world! Today, Sharpie markers are made in places like Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, and Maryville, Tennessee, as well as by many partners globally.
Sharpie in the Spotlight
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Racing with Sharpie
Sharpie has been involved in exciting sports events. From 2001 to 2009, Sharpie sponsored the "Sharpie 500" race. This was a night-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at the Bristol Motor Speedway. For the 2010 racing season, Newell Rubbermaid changed the sponsorship of this race to its Irwin Tools brand.
Sharpie also sponsored another race, the Sharpie Mini 300, from 2004 to 2008. Before 2006, Sharpie sponsored a famous race car driver named Kurt Busch, who won the Sprint Cup championship in 2004. Sharpie also sponsored Jamie McMurray in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during 2006 and 2008.
Creative Advertising for Sharpie
Sharpie commercials have often used the slogan "Write Out Loud." These advertisements showed people using Sharpies in fun and sometimes tricky situations. For example, one ad showed someone using a Sharpie to touch up a car. Another ad featured a woman using a red Sharpie to write "I QUIT" on her resignation letter.
Even famous people have been part of Sharpie's advertising. The well-known soccer star David Beckham appeared in a commercial. He was shown signing autographs with a Sharpie and playfully trying to keep them.
