BIC, the maker of pens and lighters, has acquired fast-growing digitally native semi-permanent tattoo brand Inkbox.
WHO: Created in 2015 by Tyler and Braden Handley, Inkbox is a leading direct-to-consumer semi-permanent tattoo company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The brand creates produced, artist-designed, impermanent tattoos that last 1-2 weeks, fading as the skin naturally regenerates. Since its inception, millions of people from more than 150 countries around the world have worn Inkbox tattoos. With a growing catalog of more than 10,000 designs, the Freehand Tattoo Marker, and a Custom tattoo platform used to bring any idea to life, Inkbox now ships tens of thousands of tattoos every week. It has also come to be an important revenue stream for respected tattoo artists. Collaborations with contemporary artists like BTS, Post Malone, Keith Haring, and Rupi Kaur have looked to the body as a canvas, creating a new promotional category of "skin merch." The business is headquartered in downtown Toronto, where it operates the permanent tattoo studio Inside Out. Inkbox now employs 150+ people across Canada, Japan, and the United States.
A world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday life. For more than 75 years, the company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries. In 2020, BIC net sales were 1,627.9 million euros.
WHY: Inkbox is a fast-growing digitally native brand with strong brand awareness and unique partnerships with famous artists and influencers. The acquisition will make BIC a leader in the "Do-It-Yourself" skin creative industry.
As consumer attitudes shift towards self-expression, individuality, and creativity, the acquisition of Inkbox will expand BIC's offerings in the Do-It-Yourself Skin Creative category, which already includes BIC BodyMark, the temporary tattoo marker. Following on from the successful integration of Rocketbook, the smart reusable notebook brand acquired in November 2020, Inkbox further enhances BIC's existing portfolio of recognized consumer products, where different brands address diverse types of consumer groups. With its unique ability to customize, Inkbox further strengthens BIC's DTC business and reinforces existing digital and social media engagement capabilities.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: "Consumers today crave newness, desire creative freedom, and embody authenticity. Inkbox's visionary founders, brothers Tyler and Braden Handley, have created a way to address the young generation's desire for fluid self-expression. Unlocking the body as a canvas, they have built a highly successful business that sets the standard for the semi-permanent tattoo market," said Gonzalve Bich, BIC's Chief Executive Officer. "For BIC, Inkbox's acquisition is a further step in our Do-It-Yourself Skin Creative strategy. It provides a unique opportunity to grow our Human Expression division at a much more significant scale and lead the emerging fast-growing Do-It-Yourself Skin Creative market. I am thrilled to welcome Inkbox's intensely creative and entrepreneurial team as part of the BIC community and look forward to working with Tyler and Braden to build the next chapter of Inkbox and BIC's successful journey together."
“Today's youth embrace freedom of expression to an extent not seen before. Our tattoos enable them to style their look with their ever-evolving identity. We're excited that an internationally recognized brand like BIC understands this and believes in our ethos of supporting and celebrating identity," said Tyler Handley, co-founder and CEO of Inkbox. "Beyond our shared commitment to creative expression, BIC is the ideal partner to help Inkbox achieve its full scale-up potential, notably through accelerated international expansion and operational efficiencies.”
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