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Blick Art Materials

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Blick Art Materials, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 9 August 20258 sources


"Dick Blick" redirects here. For the Olympic swimmer, see Dick Blick (swimmer).

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Blick Art Materials
Company typePrivate
PredecessorDick Blick Art Materials (1911–1974)
Founded1911; 115 years ago (1911)
Galesburg, Illinois, United States
FoundersDick Blick
Grace Blick
Number of locations
62 (2023)
Key people
Robert Buchsbaum, CEO
ProductsArt supplies and tools
OwnerDick Blick Holdings, Inc.
SubsidiariesUtrecht Art Supplies
Websitewww.dickblick.com

Blick Art Materials operates as a family-run retailer and catalog-based art supply company. Originating as a mail order enterprise launched by Dick Blick in 1911 and acquired by Robert Metzenberg in 1947, it ranks among the longest-established and most extensive art material providers in the United States, serving as a leading mail order art supply distributor.

Background

Blick Art Materials retail outlet on Santa Monica Boulevard, West Los Angeles, California

As a key player in the U.S. art supply market, Blick Art Materials stocks more than 90,000 items, including approximately 8,000 products marketed under the Blick brand name—ranging from paints and brushes to canvases, artist papers, pastels, pencils, and markers. The Utrecht line features artisanal paints, mediums, and brushes crafted by hand. The company maintains over 65 stores nationwide, incorporating 11 locations acquired from The Art Store in 2004 and an additional 45 stores purchased from Utrecht Art Supply in 2013.[1] Each retail location employs roughly 20 individuals, predominantly artists.[2] Headquarters are situated in Highland Park, Illinois, supported by three distribution centers—two located in Galesburg, Illinois and one in Monroe, New Jersey. According to venture capital and private equity firm Madison Parker Capital, Blick stands as the largest art material supplier within the United States.[3]

A Payzant pen—the inaugural product offered by Blick—261x261px

History

The Dick Blick Company was founded in 1911 by Dick Blick alongside his wife Grace. They initially operated from their kitchen to distribute their first offering—the Payzant pen—via mail order.[4] In 1947, Robert Metzenberg acquired the business.[1] The parent entity overseeing operations is Dick Blick Holdings, Inc., established by both Blick and Metzenberg.[5] Under Metzenberg’s leadership, the company expanded its mail order presence with offices in Las Vegas (Nevada), Hartford (Connecticut), and Allentown (Pennsylvania). The inaugural retail store opened in Galesburg, Illinois in 1974.[4] Additional retail locations were later launched in Las Vegas, Allentown, and Dearborn (Michigan).[6] In 1996, Metzenberg’s grandson Robert Buchsbaum took over as CEO.[5][7][8] Buchsbaum was recognized with the Business Committee for the Arts’ Leadership Award in 2016 for his exceptional vision and dedication to advancing the arts sector while inspiring corporate engagement.[8]Lua error in mw.title.lua at line 359: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jackson, Cheryl V. (February 19, 2015). "Blick Art Materials and the sales power of the maker movement". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  2. ↑ Kritzer, Ashley Gurbal (June 10, 2016). "Online sales drive Blick Art Materials' brick-and-mortar storefront in Tampa". Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Utrecht Art Supplies - Madison Parker Capital". Madison Parker Capital - Venture Capital and Private Equity. 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Our History". www.dickblick.com. Blick Art Materials. 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Dick Blick Holdings Inc.: Private Company Information". www.bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  6. ↑ Heise, Kenan (March 22, 1985). "Robert Metzenberg obituary". Chicago Tribune Digital Archive. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  7. ↑ Murg, Stephanie (April 3, 2013). "Blick Art Materials Acquires Utrecht Art Supplies". Adweek. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Blick Art Materials CEO Robert Buchsbaum to Receive BCA Leadership Award from Americans for the Arts". Americans for the Arts News. July 4, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.

External links

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