A leading pencil manufacturer has warned of a global shortage of colouring pencils due to the popularity of therapeutic adult colouring books.
Faber-Castell, the world’s biggest wooden pencil manufacturer, has cited the resurgence of colouring books as a method of de-stressing as the reason for the sudden spike in sales.
A spokesperson for the company told The Independent that they are experiencing “double-digit growth” in the sale of coloured pencils, and have subsequently been forced to run extra shifts in their German factory to meet demand.
Sandra Suppa told the paper: “Currently, we are running more shifts than usual in our factory in Stein, Bavaria in order to satisfy the global needs for artists pencils related to the colouring trend for adults.”
Colouring books for adults - in pictures
People are now not satisfied with ‘just’ 36 colours and we are noticing a trend in people preferring bigger sets of 72 or even 120 colours for colouring.”
The bizarre news comes as it was reported by The Telegraph that Waterstones had noticed a 300 per cent rise in sales of colouring books in just one year.
Melissa Cox, head of children’s buying at Waterstones, told the paper: “Colouring books are selling better than ever, which initially surprised us when you think about all the games and toys children have. But they’re doing really well at the moment, and we realised adults have started to buy them for themselves.”
Still haven’t made a start on that colouring book you got under the tree last year? It might be worth getting your pencil order in now...
Follow us on Twitter: @eslifeandstyle
Read More
MORE ABOUT