Jun 30, 2008
ATLANTA – Newell Rubbermaid (NYSE: NWL) today announced the
debut of Sharpie Pen.
An innovative extension from one of the most widely recognized brands in
consumer products, Sharpie Pen addresses consumer needs by delivering
the bold, smooth, high-quality writing experience associated with
Sharpie markers but with the performance of a pen that doesn’t bleed
through paper. The new Sharpie Pen line extends the brand’s presence
beyond markers and highlighting into everyday writing so that the
Sharpie brand can now be found in three key writing segments of the
office products category.
“We developed the Sharpie Pen based on our research that consumers
wanted the bold quality of a Sharpie marker for all their everyday
writing needs,” said Howard Heckes, president of Newell Rubbermaid’s
Markers, Highlighters & Art Products global business unit. “With this
line extension, we expect to drive incremental growth for the brand and
maintain a leadership position in all three writing segments.”
Sharpie was introduced in 1964, and through the years the bold,
permanent markers have reached cult status with many American consumers.
More than 400 million Sharpie markers are produced each year, which
translates to about four Sharpie markers per U.S. household. According
to Sharpie consumer research, Sharpie markers evoke feelings of
confidence and inspiration, hallmarks of brand loyalty and a key
component of Newell Rubbermaid’s overall brand strategy.
The launch of Sharpie Pen further delivers on Newell Rubbermaid’s
commitment to consumer-driven innovation. The stylish design gives it a
high-grade physical appearance, while providing comfort and performance.
The ink is fade-, water-, and smear-resistant when dry, and the unique
plastic tip allows for durability. The fine tip size ensures crisp,
precise and consistent line-width, making Sharpie Pen ideal for
thank-you notes, birthday cards and note-taking at home, work and school.
The Sharpie Pen also reflects the emergence of new and non-traditional
uses of the product by consumers, including office workers using Sharpie
markers to take notes and teens using them to create colorful artwork on
their shoes and jeans. As a result, the brand looked for ways to expand
to meet consumer needs and grow the business. Consumer insights
highlighted the opportunity to expand into the everyday writing segment.
Helping pave the way for the creation of the Sharpie Pen was the 2007
launch of the Sharpie Ultra-Fine Retractable marker. An extension of the
Sharpie Retractable product line, the Ultra-Fine Retractable marker
features a smaller tip size for writing versus marking. There is no cap
to lose, and the retractable feature means it can easily be opened and
closed with only one hand. Also included is a Safety Seal™ Valve which
helps prevent drying out. An immediate hit with consumers, the Sharpie
Ultra-Fine Retractable marker brought the Sharpie line closer to
featuring an everyday writing instrument.
Sharpie Pen comes in four colors − black, blue, red and green − and is
now available in the gel/rollerball pen section at national retailers
including Office Depot, Staples, and Wal-Mart, with a suggested retail
price of $1.79 for a single-pack, $3.58 for a two-pack, and $7.16 for a
four-pack.
About Newell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid Inc., an S&P 500 company, is a global marketer of
consumer and commercial products with sales of over $6 billion and a
strong portfolio of brands, including Rubbermaid®, Sharpie®, Graco®,
Calphalon®, Irwin®, Lenox®, Levolor®, Paper Mate®, Dymo®, Waterman®,
Parker®, Goody®, Bernzomatic® and Amerock®. The company is headquartered
in Atlanta, Ga., and has approximately 22,500 employees worldwide.