Shachihata is a 3rd generation family-owned company, established over 90 years ago. We are proud of the fact the average tenure of our employees is over 15 years. This results in knowledgeable staffs, who take pleasure in what they do.
Shachihata’s flag ship line is Xstamper®. This premier brand name of pre-inked stamps is recognized in over 80 countries for unsurpassed quality and innovation. Xstamper® was the first to develop the pre-inked stamp. We stand behind our product with a lifetime guarantee on every Xstamper®. Our guarantee covers the entire stamp, not just mechanical parts.
Every day millions of people around the world turn to Xstamper® brand rubber stamps to assist them in their personal and business lives. They know they'll be getting a sharp laser-cut, clear impression every time. With its retractable frame, the pre-inked Xstamper® is always clean and eliminates the need for messy stamp pads. Our advanced technology allows up to 50,000 impressions before re-inking. Our reputation for quality and being a leader in stamp-making technology is highly regarded.
In addition to the Xstamper®, we also offer a complete line of ClassiX® self-inking stamps. Our Xecutive® collection of signs and badges is continuing to grow, while our Artline® pens and markers remain extremely popular worldwide.
As we approach or 50th anniversary here is the U.S., we are committed to continuing to offer high-quality products and unsurpassed customer service.
Here at Shachihata, we are nearing our 100th Anniversary in 2025. As I thought about all the changes that have occurred in our company alone, I thought it might be fun to spend a moment and look at how our world has changed during the last century. Interestingly enough, in 1923, the world was just 4 years removed from its own pandemic. Let’s see what has changed and what else hasn’t…
1923 – Life expectancy was 57 years 2023 – Life expectancy is 76 years1923 – Average U.S. salary was $3,269 2023 – Average U.S. salary is $54,1321923 – Median home price was $6,296 2023 – Median home price is $385,8001923 – Average price of a gallon of gasoline was $0.22 2023 – Average price of a gallon of gasoline was $3.491923 – Average cost of an automobile was $525 2023 – Average cost of an automobile is $40,2731923 – Monthly rent average in New York City was $60 2023 – Monthly rent average in New York City is $3,3451923 – The cost of a dozen eggs was $0.07 2023 – The cost of a dozen eggs is $4.251923 – The cost of a wedding was $400 2023 – The cost of a wedding is $28,0001923 – The cost of a movie ticket was $0.15 1923 – The cost of a movie ticket was $9.171923 – One gallon of milk costs $0.33 2023 – One gallon of milk costs $4.52Major U.S Populations
Chicago 1920 census – 2,701,705 2020 census – 2,747,231
Los Angeles 1920 census – 576,673 2020 census – 3,849,297
New York 1920 census – 5,620,048 2020 census – 8,804,1901923 – Average work week was 50 hours 2023 – Average work week is 34.4 hoursMost Popular Mode of Transportation
1923 – Trains 2023 – AutomobilesCost of One Year of College Tuition (only) at Stanford University
1923 – $160 2023 – $57,693
After looking back at the difference and similarities between 1923 and 2023, it’s safe to say that the only thing that has remained the same (more or less) is the population of Chicago, IL. Isn’t that interesting…
But this is a Shachihata blog. What changes has Shachihata seen? Well, here’s the quick story of the Mannen stamp pad…
Prior to 1925 and the development of the Mannen stamp pad by Shachihata, stamp pads had to be inked each time they were used – crazy right? The Mannen stamp pad introduced continuous stamp use without ink needing to replenish the ink. It was groundbreaking but was not quickly accepted by the public. Shachihata decided to give away the stamp pads as gifts to the police, local government offices, banks, and other public institutions. Their use verified the effectiveness of the new product and sales finally took off.
The International Personalization & Awards Expo is just around the corner, February 7-10, 2023, at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. We are super excited to have the opportunity to share our new and compelling products and ideas with you, as well as just getting the chance to do a little catching up.
Along with the World’s Greatest Stamp, the Xstamper®, we will be showcasing a vase array of marking products, some of which will be shown for the first time. We’ll be demo-ing the LX-7001 Shachihata Laser Engraving System and the Xstamper QuiX Pre-Inked Stamp Making System. We’ll also have a variety of finished custom and stock stamps, markers, and more!
So drop by booth #736 and say hello and see what’s happening at Shachihata.
In our previous blog about the National Hardware Show, we mentioned our Professional Series markers, which are designed to take the guesswork out of identifying the best marker for each job. We thought we would take a moment this time to share more details about each marker in the series.
Builders Markers – 2.3mm bullet tip Builders Markers are ideal for use on wood, sandstone, styrene foam, and other rough surfaces, ensuring the right marking tool is close by regardless of the situation. A thick opaque paint ink ensures markings can be seen from a distance and won’t fade over time. And it’s UV-resistant! Available in black and white ink.
Concrete Markers – 1.5mm bullet tip Concrete Markers are instant-drying and ideal for use on rough surfaces, including concrete, brick, grout, and more. The durable, long-lasting nib ensures all markings and measurements will be done with a precision line. Available in black ink.
Electricians Markers – 0.4 fine tip / 1.0mm bullet tip twin-nib Electricians Markers offer a convenient twin tip with a non-conductive plastic barrel and ink that has both a bullet and fine nib. Ideal for use on plastic, wires, plasterboard, and electrical tags. Available in black and orange ink.
Exterior Markers – 1.5mm bullet tip Exterior Markers are designed to be used anywhere marking needs to withstand the natural elements. Ideal for use on multiple exterior surfaces such as wood, plastic, metal, and stone. Incorporates light- and UV-resistant ink that is instant-drying and long-lasting. Available in black ink.
Gardeners Markers – 2.3mm bullet tip Gardeners Markers are designed to be used for marking across the garden. From pots and plant ID tags, to the leaves themselves, Gardeners Markers are perfect for anyone with a green thumb! They are also waterproof and UV-resistant. Available in black, white, and silver.
General Purpose Markers – 1.5mm bullet tip General Purpose Markers are instant-drying permanent markers for use on a wide variety of surfaces, including steel, glass, tile, and plastic. This is the do-everything marker! Available in black and red ink.
Plumbers Markers – 1.5mm bullet tip Plumbers Markers are ideal for use on most wet surfaces, including pipes, plastic, metal, and copper. The unique, proprietary ink formula allows for marking on wet surfaces, ensuring pipes and other materials can be written on no matter the conditions. Available in black and red ink.
Be sure to stop by booth #SL10194 at the National Hardware Show #NHS2023 and see these markers for yourself. We’ll have demo stations set up, and we’d love your feedback, as we’re quite proud of this new product line!
Whenever a business attempts to enter a new market or create a new market altogether, there is a considerable amount of risk and the possibility of success.
Expanding into new markets helps businesses adapt to changes in consumer needs and industry trends. Once a business identifies a new market to enter and has the products that they believe will make an impact in that market, the real fun begins. How do you enter a new market that you have never been part of before? In some cases, these markets are so new that there are no guidelines to follow, things are happening in real-time. So what should you do to launch your new concept?
Some experts say the best way to achieve this is to use the “parallel play” behavior pattern of preschoolers. I know this sounds strange at first, but here is the gist of the idea. When preschoolers play together, they participate in what is known as parallel play. The children play close to each other but do not engage with each other, other than occasionally looking to see what the other child is doing. So in other words, have a plan, do what you think will help you achieve your goals, but also pay attention to what others are doing in the market space. There may be changes or patterns that are vital to your success.
That being said, here are Shachihata, we are taking on this challenge, as we are expanding into a new market — specifically hardware, DIY, and outdoors/gardening. We are excited about sharing our products, and their benefits in new and innovative ways. Our first significant step will be attending the National Hardware Show, Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, 2023, in Las Vegas. At #NHS2022, we will be showing our brand new line of professional series markers for the first time, amongst other proven winners, such as the garden marker and fabric marker. We hope you will stop by our booth, #SL10194, and see what’s new and share your thoughts and ideas.
If you’ve never heard of the National Hardware Show and have thought about diversifying, check it out. There are plenty of opportunities for everyone!
We’re looking forward to exhibiting at the upcoming International Personalization & Awards Expo, February 7-10, 2023 in sunny Las Vegas! This is the first Expo since 2020, so it should be a great show. This is your chance to see all that has been going on in the Personalization and Marking industries over the past couple of years. Be sure to come by our booth (#736) and say hello, we are looking forward to seeing you again and reconnecting with the industry as a whole.
Get Your Free (non-member) Expo Pass Here!
Your unique promo code is: Xstamper23
Enter this promo code when registering for the show
At the end of each year, we take a moment to look back at the events of the past year. We are all aware that there has been a lot going on in our world this past year, some good and some bad. So with that in mind, here are six events you might have missed…
1 – Women Rescued Trying to Retrieve Phone
Several firefighters in the state of Washington had to pull a woman out of an outhouse after she accidentally fell into the hole after dropping her cell phone. The woman was using her phone in the Olympic National Forest when it fell into the toilet. As she tried to reach the phone with a dog leash, she fell into the toilet head first. She was pulled from the vault by firefighters using blocks as steps to reach a harness. She does not appear to have suffered any injuries.
2 – James Cromwell Glues his Hands to Starbucks Counter
James Cromwell protested the extra charge for plant-based milk at a midtown Manhattan Starbucks by gluing his hand to the counter. The 82-year-old Oscar nominee attended a protest organized by the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In a “Free the Animals” T-shirt, Cromwell stated that vegan milk shouldn’t be charged a surcharge. As he held his hand up to the counter, he made an obscene gesture. Starbucks, according to a spokesperson, respects the right of customers to express their views as long as they don’t disrupt store operations.
3 – Man Inhales Drill during Dental Visit
Drill bits inhaled during a routine dental exam in Illinois have been removed via a rare procedure in a hospital. The dentist informed Tom Jozsi that he swallowed a tool while he was getting his tooth filled. Unfortunately, the drill bit was deep within his lung, and a CT scan showed he inhaled it. The bit was so deep that it could not be reached by a conventional scope, according to Dr. Abdul Alraiyes from Aurora Medical Center-Kenosha in Wisconsin. They were able to remove the object last month using a device designed to detect cancer early.
4 – Roman Bust Found in Texas
After years of research, experts have determined that the marble bust, which Laura Young bought for $35 from a Goodwill store in Texas in 2018, is an ancient Roman sculpture lost to Germany after World War II. The bust, currently on display at a museum in San Antonio, was found by Young at a Goodwill store in 2018. The artifact is believed to date to the first century B.C. or the first century AD when it was last seen in Germany. The museum reports that experts believe the sculpture was stolen by a soldier and taken to the United States. Next year, the bust will be returned to Germany after it is displayed in San Antonio thru 2022.
5 – Airport Prankster
Those approaching Gatwick Airport were confused after pranksters installed large letters that read “Welcome to Luton” near the approaching runway. Air passengers arriving at the UK’s second-largest airport could easily make out the 60m (197ft) sign. However, the airport at Luton is actually located approximately 75 miles to the north! Just a little added excitement for weary travelers.
6 – New and Exciting Changes at Shachihata
There have been many new and exciting developments here at Shachihata throughout 2022 that you may not be aware of. Along with our parent company in Japan, we have devised a global strategy for all of Shachihata. This means we’ll have a new focus for 2023, so keep following us to find out what new and compelling things we have in store to benefit you next year and beyond!
And with that, we wish you all a Very Happy and Prosperous 2023!
1. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three-day harvest festival. It included 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians.
2. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863. Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who wrote “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” convinced Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday after writing letters for 17 years.
3. There are four places in the United States named Turkey. Louisiana’s Turkey Creek is the most populous, with a whopping 435 residents. There’s also Turkey, Texas; Turkey, North Carolina; and Turkey Creek, Arizona. Oh, let’s not forget the two townships in Pennsylvania: the creatively named Upper Turkeyfoot and Lower Turkeyfoot!
4. The average number of calories consumed on Thanksgiving is 4,500.
5. In 1953, Swanson misjudged the number of frozen turkeys it would sell that Thanksgiving – by 26 tons! Some industrious soul came up with a brilliant plan: Why not slice up the meat and repackage it with some trimmings on the side? Thus, the first TV dinner was born!
6. Butterball answers more than 100,000 turkey-cooking questions via their Butterball Turkey Hotline each November and December.
7. The tradition of football on Thanksgiving began in 1876 with a game between Yale and Princeton. The first NFL games were played on Thanksgiving in 1920.
8. Back in the day, the Europeans took a liking to the guinea fowl imported to the continent. Since the birds were imported by Turkish merchants, the English called them turkeys. Later, when the Spaniards came to America, they found a bird that tasted like guinea fowl. When they were sent to Europe, the English called these birds “turkeys” as well.
9. If Ben Franklin had his way, the turkey would be our national bird. An eagle, he wrote in a letter to his daughter, had “bad moral character.” A turkey, on the other hand, was a “much more respectable bird.”
10. In 1883, the Legislature of Liberia enacted a statute declaring this day a national holiday. Thanksgiving is celebrated in the country largely the nation’s founding in 1821 as a colony of the American Colonization Society by former slaves and free people of color from the United States.
It’s fair to say that cancer has touched the lives of all of us in some way, whether experiencing it ourselves or through the suffering of a loved one. During the year 2020 alone, the International Agency for Research on Cancer estimated there were 19.3 million new cancer cases worldwide. So as time passes, the cases continue to increase.
At the same time, scientists and researchers are working endlessly to find breakthroughs for the treatments of what seems like an endless list of cancer types. Although research takes time to achieve the smallest of breakthroughs, each one is a step forward. Not all is doom and gloom, the future for cancer patients is actually a little brighter every day.
Recently, there have been some promising advancements in the treatment of cancer and even possible cures for some cancers. In the United States, over a dozen rectal cancer patients had their cancer disappear after undergoing experimental immunotherapy at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The patient’s tumors vanished after being treated with an experimental drug called dostarlimab.
This trial has been called the first true cancer treatment, where the cancer is completely eliminated in every patient treated, with minimum side effects. In addition, none of these patients needed traditional treatments such as chemo, radiation, or surgery, and the disease has not returned in any of the patients.
More clinical trials are underway and will be needed to have a better understanding of this treatment over a larger group of patients and to understand the scope and effectiveness of this new breakthrough treatment.
Although this is certainly a major step in finding a cure for cancer, we still have a long way to go. We urge you to please donate to the cancer research organization of your choice. Let’s continue the fight until ALL cancer has been eliminated.
Here at Shachihata, we offer a pink pocket stamp which we donate a part of the proceeds for each stamp sold to cancer research. So if you would like to learn more about our pocket stamp and want to help cancer research at the same time, please click here.
Recently, I was streaming a show on vintage car restoration, and it got me thinking. The show featured 3 different types of restorers. The first one specialized in traditional restoration projects, restoring a car back to its original state. Each part is meticulously replaced with a new version of the original equipment. Once they were done with the car, it was exactly as it was on the day it rolled off the assembly line decades earlier.
Next up was a car builder, who took a different approach. Their concept was to restore the car to its (more or less) original appearance but with all new modern parts: tires, rims, motor, disc brakes, power steering, A/C, airbags, GPS, etc. These cars are sometimes known as resto-mods. The end result is a vehicle with the original charm and appearance of a classic car but with all the modern amenities.
The final car builder was a hot rod/custom shop. When they finish a car, it has all the mechanical parts updated and replaced. Still, the vehicle’s outer appearance remains as-is: no new paint and very little bodywork, if any. This approach allows the vehicle to remain “original” with the original patina, paint, and maybe even a few rough spots.
All 3 of these shops offer different approaches and ideas on restoring an automobile and what the result should be. Bill’s Backyard Classics breaks down these approaches. Which one is your favorite? Do we sometimes discount and dismiss older ideas in our relentless push for the newest, greatest thing?
In our industry, many businesses are looking to purchase a rubber stamp that is laser-cut to produce a clean, sharp image. Then there are the businesses that prefer the “old school” traditional rubber stamp and ink pad approach. These people prefer the appearance of the impression, desiring a more rustic and aged look. Coffee shops, book stores, and many other retailers use these stamps for branding bags and gift certificates, among other uses. Then there are the companies that want a rugged stamp that can achieve repetitive marking with no added frills.
As we step further into the future, we find that some past techniques and tools do not necessarily need to be improved upon because if they are, the desired end-effect would be lost. We will encounter countless new innovations and products, most of which make our lives better, but every now and then, it’s hard to beat a time-honored and proven product. The Xstamper family of stamps is a bit of both. From traditional stamps to self-inkers to the world’s greatest Xstamper pre-inked stamp, our products remain as innovative as they are proven.
The other day I was driving into work, and the notion hit me that over the past 3 years, our offices, work schedules, work tools, and where we work from have all changed drastically. That got me thinking about how offices and work environments have changed over the years.
1950s
In the late 1950s, the Quickborner consulting group located in Germany was established as a space planning firm. The group viewed the current offices of the day to be uninspiring and downright dull, with rows of desks and a repressive office hierarchy. Their approach was called Bürolandschaft, a German term that means “office landscape.” It was a very contemporary design with irregular geometry and organic patterns to break up the layout of offices. This flexible approach allowed each space to be dealt with differently, and for the first time, a breakroom was introduced in office designs.
1960s
In the 1960s, Robert Propst, President of Herman Miller Research Corporation, looked into how the office world operated. He famously stated, “today’s office is a wasteland. It saps vitality, blocks talent, frustrates accomplishment. It is the daily scene of unfulfilled intentions and failed effort.” His answer to this was the Action Office System (originally introduced by the corporation’s namesake, Herman Miller). This was the world’s first open-plan office system. Action Offices allowed for configuring and reconfiguring the office layout as needed.
Ahhhh, the 70s
1970s
The 1970s saw the introduction of the first ergonomic office furniture, making the office more comfortable and fostering health and wellness. The 70’s also introduced the office environment to brighter colors, wallpaper, groovy shag carpet, and patterns and shapes on everything that didn’t move. Unfortunately, noisy metal filing cabinets and economy cubicles pretty much ruined any design sense that might have existed.
1980s
The 1980s office design had a new challenge; word processors, fax machines, and other communication systems were all pretty much new to offices. These machines needed space, so larger and heavier desks were introduced to accommodate them. The office had a more function-built feel than past designs, where modular walls and other components were introduced in mass. The open office plan was now a thing of the past (at least for the time being).
1990s
Office designs of the 1990s were aimed at reducing clutter and streamlining efficiency. With a greater focus on employee collaboration than in the past, the open office format became popular once again. This was also the decade when a PC on every desk started to become the norm.
Apple Park
2000s – 2022
The rise of “Coworking” in the 2010s was meteoric. Coworking (think WeWork) provided spaces where people from different companies could work and collaborate in the same space, opening up new options on how and where to do business. Tech firms went all in on new and creative designs, from Apple’s Apple Park campus to Bloomberg’s European Headquarters, which ranks as the world’s most sustainable office building. Sustainability and community became highly valued aspects of offices in the 2010s. Flexible schedules and remote work became extremely important, especially during the Covid-19 outbreak of 2020. These new work options have become a very important issue for employees today. According to the Gallup survey, 51% percent of participants stated that they would change jobs if allowed flexible schedules, and 35% said they would change jobs if they could work from home.
We here at Shachihata have been a part of the office evolution since its earliest days, supplying stamp pads, rubber stamps, markers, pens, signage, and so much more. To view our full line of products, many of which are ideally suited for offices in their many forms, click here.
Where does the evolution go next, no one knows for sure, but it will be fun to watch. One thing is certain; we’ll be here with new products and innovations for these future office needs!
– Edited by: Charles Arjavac, Marketing Manager, Shachihata Inc. (U.S.A.)
Shachihata Xstamper 