Sharpie is a brand of writing implements (mainly permanent markers) manufactured by Newell Brands, a

public company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Originally designating a single permanent marker,
the Sharpie brand has been widely expanded and can now be found on a variety of previously unrelated
permanent and non-permanent pens and markers formerly marketed under other brands. This article
focuses on the legacy Sharpie permanent marker line.

Sharpie markers are made with several tips. The most common and popular is the Fine tip. Other tips
include Ultra Fine Point, Extra Fine Point, Brush tip, Chisel tip, and Retractable tip. Apart from markers
and highlighters, Sharpie products include gel and rollerball pens.

"Sharpie" was originally a name designating a permanent marker launched in 1964 by the Sanford Ink
Company (established in 1857). The Sharpie also became the first pen-style permanent marker.[1][2]

In 1990, Sharpie was acquired by The Newell Companies (later Newell Rubbermaid) as part of Sanford, a
leading manufacturer and marketer of writing instruments.[3]

In 2005, the company's popular Accent highlighter brand was repositioned under the Sharpie brand
name. A new version of Sharpie called Sharpie Mini was launched, which are markers half the size of a
normal Sharpie and feature a clip to attach the Sharpie to a keychain or lanyard. In 2006, Sharpie
released a new line of markers that had a button-activated retractable tip rather than a cap. Sharpie
Paint markers were also introduced. As of 2011, 200 million Sharpies had been sold worldwide.[4]
Sharpie markers are manufactured in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico and Maryville, TN, and with
numerous off-shore partners globally.[5][6]

Marketing

Fltr (left): Sharpie sponsorship on a NASCAR car, 2014; (right): branded products on sale in London
Sharpie sponsored the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sharpie 500, a popular night-time race at Bristol Motor
Speedway, from 2001 through 2009.[2] For the 2010 season, Newell Rubbermaid switched the
sponsorship for this race to its Irwin Tools brand. Sharpie sponsored the Nationwide Series Sharpie Mini
300 race from 2004 to 2008. Before 2006, they sponsored Kurt Busch, who was the 2004 Sprint Cup
champion. Sharpie also sponsored Jamie McMurray in the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the 2008
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

In recent years, Sharpie commercials have followed the slogan "Write Out Loud". These advertisements
depict people using Sharpies in bad situations, such as using the marker to touch up a car and a college
woman highlighting words in a book to notify a male student that his fly was open. Also, a middle-aged
woman trying to think of what to write for her resignation letter, writes "I QUIT" with a red Sharpie.
David Beckham is sponsored by Sharpie and appears in a commercial signing autograph with a Sharpie
and trying to steal them.[7]

Hand sanitizer and acetone based nail polish remover are said to be effective on permanent markers.[8]
Sharpie official FAQ suggests trying a product called Amodex stain remover.[9] Though Sharpie ink will
become mostly permanent after setting, it can be erased. A dry erase marker is usually successful in
removing sharpie ink by covering the sharpie ink using three to four pen strokes.[10]
Sharpie ink that has dried for more than several hours can be removed with acetone and other ketones
and esters, such as ethyl acetate, but acetone and other organic solvents may damage the surface of the
material written upon. Isopropyl alcohol works well and is less damaging to some surfaces; rubbing
alcohol is the dilute form, so it works more slowly. On some surfaces, the ink can be removed by
coloring over the ink with a dry erase marker (since this marker's ink contains organic solvents) and then
removing the Sharpie ink and dry erase marker ink with a dry cloth. Steam cleaning has proved effective,
as have rubber erasers. Magic Eraser has also proven somewhat effective on hard surfaces such as brick
and very effective on wood furniture. On non-porous surfaces, denatured alcohol is the most effective
solvent for the removal of Sharpie ink, and it is safe for use on most plastics.

There are no warning labels on Sharpie markers. They bear the new AP (Approved Product) certification
symbol of The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI). According to the organization:[