Flicking Your BIC for 40 Years

BIC® Pocket Lighters Celebrates its 40^th Birthday

TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - Over the last four decades, BIC has lit up our lives! Since 1973, BIC^® Pocket Lighters have been an iconic part of living in the moment, and to commemorate the 40^th anniversary, BIC is celebrating the milestone with the launch of a new website for Canadians - www.flickyourbic.ca - and the "BIC Flicktacular™ Contest" where Canadians can submit an original design for a BIC^® Pocket Lighter wrap. The celebration is certain to fire up Canadians' creativity and spark a lot of memories.

Not Just for Pockets Anymore...
BIC is the number one pocket lighter brand in Canada* and a leader in safety and reliability standards, the two most important features influencing purchase decisions among consumers**. And they're not just for pockets anymore. A recent survey*** reveals that of those Canadians who buy lighters, an astounding 64% keep them in the house; one third (33%) keep them in their pocket; and 22% keep them in their purse. Another 14% of respondents keep a lighter in their First Aid/Emergency Kit, which is equal to the number of people who keep a lighter in their office desk drawer.

Canadians can now Click and Flick with BIC!
Beginning November 25, you can discover more about BIC^® Lighters online at www.flickyourbic.ca. "This new website is a chance for us to share more about BIC with our Canadian fans and thank them for 40 years of flicks," says Veronica Espinosa, Brand Manager, BIC Inc.  "In addition to interesting history about BIC Lighters, the website will preview new designs and house contests like our 'BIC Flicktacular Contest' which launches December 6^th."

BIC Flicktacular Contest:  A Spark of Brilliance
To celebrate its 40^th birthday, BIC is searching for budding artists from coast-to-coast. The "BIC Flicktacular Contest" invites Canadians to submit pocket lighter wrap designs to the BIC contest microsite at www.flickyourbic.ca/flicktacular. Designs can be submitted from December 6, 2013 through to February 7, 2014 and the public can vote to "pick their BIC" from February 19 through to March 13, 2014. Each person can enter one vote per day for their favourite lighter and two vote entrants will be chosen by sweepstakes to win $1,000 each. Late March, 40 design finalists will be revealed, out of which eight design winners will be chosen mid April. Each of the eight winning designers will receive a $1,000 prize.****

The first decorated BIC^® Pocket Lighter - "California" - was launched in Europe in 1990, and BIC now introduces new designs every year around the world. It's definitely a point of interest with almost one-third (31%) of lighter consumers in Canada saying that graphics and colour are somewhat to extremely important when making their purchasing decision. That number jumps to 46% in the Atlantic Provinces.

BIC is introducing eight limited-edition "Flick My BIC®" funky designs to mark BIC Pocket Lighter's 40^th birthday. Representing the carefree style of the '70s, look for them where BIC^® Lighters are sold. Other unique wrap designs for 2013 include hockey team logos, beer brands, and fun and colourful mosaics.

"Flame-ous" Design
While lighter designs may evolve with time, the overall design of the BIC^® Pocket Lighter has remained virtually unchanged since it was introduced 40 years ago. The timeless oval shape resulted from research carried out by experts to ensure the best handling for the consumer - it's the perfect marriage of form and function. The simple design of the BIC^® Pocket Lighter has even earned it a spot in the permanent collections of respected museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Safety is Top Priority for BIC
Thanks to its high tech manufacturing processes, BIC is able to produce millions of lighters every day while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and performance. BIC^® Lighters meet or exceed the ISO 9994 International Safety Standard which defines safety specifications such as maximum flame height, resistance to elevated temperatures, flame extinction, and resistance to drops. They also meet or exceed all of the requirements of Canada's Lighters Regulations (SOR/2008-231) to assure quality and consumer safety.  Every BIC^® Lighter goes through more than 50 quality checks before leaving the manufacturing facility and all lighters are 100% quality inspected. BIC continues to invest in the latest technology to maintain its position as a worldwide leader in lighters.

BIC^® Pocket Lighters offer a number of options to meet the needs of Canadians. The BIC^® Maxi Lighter offers consumers two times the lights compared to the next leading full-size brand. Other popular BIC^® Lighter choices include the Mini Classic; Minitronic, with its thumb friendly design; and the Slim BIC^® Lighter. You can find BIC^® Pocket Lighters at your local convenience store or retailer and retail prices begin around $2 depending on purchase location.

About BIC Inc.
BIC Inc. (Canada) is a subsidiary of BIC Corporation (www.bicworld.com), a leading manufacturer of stationery products, lighters and shavers.  Since its founding more than 50 years ago, BIC has honoured the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable products to consumers everywhere.  Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands in the world today.

* BIC is Canada's #1 Selling Brand of Lighters (Source: Nielsen Market Track, FDM +GM +WC +C&G, Last 52 week period ending July 27th, 2013)

** BIC is a leader in safety and reliability, the two most important features influencing purchase decisions among consumers (Source: Commins Wingrove Pocket Lighter consumer research, June 2012)

***   In October, 2013 Canadian Omnibus conducted an online survey among 1,000 randomly selected Canadians. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure samples are representative of the Canadian adult population.

**** No purchase necessary. Design Contest and Sweepstakes. Winners must correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question. Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received. Open to legal residents of Canada who are over the age of majority in their province or territory of residence at the time of entry. Design Contest: From December 6, 2013 through February 7, 2014 at 11:59 pm ET. Limit ten (10) lighter design entries per person. Up to eight (8) cash prizes of $1,000 CAD each available to be won and a chance to have your design produced on specially manufactured lighters and sold in stores. Approximate retail value $1,000 CAD. Design Contest: Winners must execute a Transfer of Rights and all other required documentation. Voting and Sweepstakes: From February 19, 2014 through March 13, 2014 at 11:59 pm ET. Two (2) cash prizes of $1,000 CAD each. For full rules and entry details, visit: www.flickyourbic.ca/flicktacular

Image with caption: "BIC Pocket Lighters Flick My BIC (CNW Group/BIC Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131126_C4903_PHOTO_EN_33831.jpg

SOURCE: BIC Inc.

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