Newell Rubbermaid Reinvents Mechanical Pencils with First Sharpie Liquid Pencil

ATLANTA, Aug. 5, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Newell Rubbermaid (NYSE: NWL) today announced the latest innovation from Sharpie®, the largest writing brand in North America.  Sharpie Liquid Pencil revolutionizes the classic, tried and true writing instrument – the pencil – with cutting-edge liquid graphite technology that writes smooth like a pen but erases like a pencil, eliminating the frustration of broken or dulling pencil leads.  

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(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100805/CL45853 )

"The Sharpie Liquid Pencil is a game changer in the back-to-school shopping aisle," said Sally Grimes, Vice President of Marketing for Newell Rubbermaid's Markers, Highlighters, Art & Organization global business unit. "It solves the No. 1 consumer dissatisfaction with mechanical pencils – breaking leads – while also giving users the added confidence of stronger, darker lines that stand the test of time, plus the ability to erase and edit as they go."

Sharpie Liquid Pencil features a line width comparable to a No. 2 traditional or mechanical pencil but there is no lead to break, never a need to sharpen and it won't smudge or smear. The unique pressurized liquid graphite was especially designed to write on paper and is erasable for up to three days, after which it becomes more permanent.  Suggested retail price is $1.99 for a single pack and $3.99 for the double pack, each with eraser refills.  Both are available wherever office products are sold beginning in September.  

The Sharpie Liquid Pencil joins the Sharpie Pen as the brand further expands from permanent markers into near-neighbor categories. The Sharpie Pen doesn't bleed through paper and is perfect for everyday writing.  

For more information on Sharpie Liquid Pencil, Sharpie Pen and other Sharpie products, visit www.sharpie.com.

About Newell Rubbermaid

Newell Rubbermaid Inc., an S&P 500 company, is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products with 2009 sales of approximately $5.6 billion and a strong portfolio of brands, including Rubbermaid®, Sharpie®, Graco®, Calphalon®, Irwin®, Lenox®, Levolor®, Paper Mate®, Dymo®, Waterman®, Parker®, Goody®, Technical Concepts™ and Aprica®.

This press release and additional information about Newell Rubbermaid are available on the company's Web site, www.newellrubbermaid.com.

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SOURCE Newell Rubbermaid