Sharpie (marker)
In the United States, Sharpie is a line of permanent markers manufactured by the Sanford company. It is prized for its ability to write a clear, well-defined, non-smudging, durable line on glossy surfaces. While Sharpie is a brand name, its widespread use has resulted in the genericized trademark use of "sharpie" as a term describing any permanent marker that works on glossy surfaces.
History
The original Sharpie marker was first introduced in 1964 and has since expanded into a wide product line. Today, Sharpies are sold in seven varieties, according to the shape and size of their tip(s), ranging from "Ultra Fine" to "Magnum". They also come in 34 ink colors, along with a single variety in metallic silver. Metallic gold and copper versions were introduced as well, but these have been discontinued due to problems with the ink formula. In 2004, Sanford released a new line of Sharpies that have a button-activated contracting tip rather than a cap, called the Sharpie RT. Sharpie Paint markers were also introduced. 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; the markers are half the size of a normal Sharpie and feature a clip to attach the Sharpie to a keychain or lanyard.
Each Sharpie has a printed seal from the Art & Creative Materials Institute certifying the marker is non-toxic.
Uses
Sharpie's versatility has led to its use in many applications such as
- General labeling in both commercial and residential settings
- Cartooning
- Graffiti
- Image and poster design
- Body painting
- Signing autographs
- Sharpie wars, where participants attempt to mark opposing teams' shirts or skin
- Nail polish (color nails and then go over them with clear nail polish)
- Recreational drug use (see Inhalant)
Marketing
In recent years, Sanford has distanced its company name from the Sharpie brand, eliminating it from the markers themselves and developing a website completely separate from Sanford's main site. In the United Kingdom, Sharpies are sold under Sanford's Papermate brand name.
Sharpie is the official marker of the Walt Disney World Resort.
NASCAR Marketing
Sanford's Sharpie line sponsors two NASCAR races along with Nextel Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray. Prior to 2006, they sponsored Kurt Busch, who was the 2004 series champion. Sharpie also sponsors the popular night-time race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The Terrell Owens "Sharpie" incident
In October 2002, the Sharpie marker made news in the United States when, after scoring a touchdown for the San Francisco 49ers against the Seattle Seahawks, American football player Terrell Owens produced a pen he had stored in his sock, autographed the ball with which he had just scored, and passed it to his financial advisor, who was sitting in the audience, during a touchdown dance.
Many, including team officials, expressed dismay at the apparent arrogance of the move and the implication that Owens' attention was directed toward commercial exploitation of his athletic successes. Team officials did not, however, discipline him for the incident.
In interviews, he called the pen a "Sharpie" by name. Many speculated that Owens hoped to win an endorsement deal from Sanford. Bob Daenen, brand manager for the Sharpie line, originally said company officials were not interested. However, a year later, Sharpie enlisted Owens for a promotion entitled "Sharpie Metallic AUTOgraphs for Education," involving small donations of cash and school supplies to Bay Area schools.
Write Out Loud
In recent years, Sharpie commercials have followed the theme "Write Out Loud" These advertisements depict people using Sharpies in humorous 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.
The President's Sharpies
Indeed, the Sharpie has become so popular in American culture that it is the marker of choice for the President of the United States, George W. Bush, who reportedly likes Sharpies so much that he often rejects other writing utensils in favor of them. The President's Sharpies carry his signature and have the words "The White House" emblazoned upon them. There are even special Camp David Sharpies.
Apparently, many celebrities have personalized Sharpies, but Sanford North America president Howard Heckes told U.S. News and World Report that "it's pretty cool" to supply the President of the United States. "Sharpies are good for the President of the United States or the president of the PTA," Heckes said in a September 2006 interview.(US News & World Report)
Sharpie varieties
- Sharpie (Classic Formula)
- Fine Point
- Extra Fine Point
- Ultra Fine Point
- Super
- Twin-Tip
- Super Twin-Tip
- Chisel Point
- RT Retractable Fine
- RT Retractable Ultra Fine
- Mini Fine
- Micro Ultra Fine
- Sharpie Grip (formerly known as Liquid Sharpie)
- Fine Point
- Sharpie Metallic
- Fine Point
- Sharpie Accent
- Grip Style
- Retractable Style
- Tank Style
- Pocket Style
- Liquid Pen Style
- Mini
- Sharpie King Size-do not shake rapidly
- Chisel Point
- Sharpie Magnum
- Bold Point
- Sharpie Rub-a-Dub
- Fine Point
- Sharpie Flip Chart
- Bullet Point
- Sharpie Industrial
- Fine Point
- Extra Fine Point
- Sharpie Professional
- Chisel Point
- Sharpie Touch-Up
- Fine Point
- Sharpie Paint
- Extra Fine Point
- Fine Point
- Medium Point
- Bold Point
- Sharpie Poster Paint
- Extra Fine Point
- Fine Point
- Medium Point
- Extra Bold Point
- Extra fine Point
Sharpie colors
Only the fine and ultra fine point markers feature every color. Metallic colors are available only in fine point.
- Original
- Introduced in 2001
- Introduced in 2002
- Introduced in 2003
- metallic gold (discontinued)
- metallic copper (discontinued)
- burgundy
- marigold
- olive
- navy
- plum
- Introduced in 2004
- Introduced in 2005
- Introduced in 2006 (Summer Splash series)
Erasing
Though Sharpie ink will become permanent after setting, it can be easily erased for several hours after writing on many glossy surfaces, most readily smooth metal and glass. Since the ink is based on propanol, butanol and diacetone alcohols, rubbing alcohol will remove permanent ink writing. Sharpie ink can generally be erased from CDs, microscope slides and plastic bottles within several hours. Sharpie ink that has dried for more than several hours can be removed with acetone, but due to the power of the solvent, acetone may damage the surface material. On some surfaces, the ink can be removed by coloring over the ink with a dry erase marker and then removing the Sharpie ink and dry erase marker ink with a dry cloth. Steam cleaning has proved effective also. Magic Eraser has also proven somewhat effective on hard surfaces such as brick.