We face significant cost challenges and the need to implement a cost price increase effective from July 1st 2021.  We have tried to find the most equitable solution to a complex number of problems that impact across our industry - including raw materials, manufacturing, freight and supply.

Whilst we will continue to absorb many of the cost increases, as we have been doing already for several months, we feel it is important to share with you where it impacts most and explain why we need to implement some price increases with you. This is a truly global issue impacting ours and many other industries, and though this will not be new news, we hope the below explains both the challenges and the approach we have taken.

Whilst not covering every challenge we face there are 4 main categories:

1. Raw Materials – Force Majeure reduction or denial of supply contracts combined with the well-publicised BASF fire (a major polymer producer), alongside adverse weather in Texas (a leading source of resins) and a growing demand from other industries (for example the domestic paint and motor industry).
2. Transport – Shipping costs have increased up to four-fold in a year with shipping container scarcity remaining a challenge for us and our various suppliers.
3. Manufacturing & Supply – Covid safe working practices and various governmental restrictions impacting several of our sites. Our employee safety will always remain our upmost priority.
4. The sustained growth of global demand for art materials from mid-2020 compounding the availability, and thus cost, of raw materials and packaging.

Due to the complexity of the above, and the impact it has on our business in different ways, we have applied our cost price changes at different levels by product category whilst aiming to minimise the impact and disruption to your business. We feel this is the most fair and equitable way to solve this shared challenge and as indicated above we will continue to absorb cost increases ourselves that will be above our overall July 1st changes.

Whilst all product ranges are impacted to some degree our main areas of concern include acrylic colour and acrylic mediums, oil colour, watercolour and canvas. The cost price increases by category are hereby outlined below and your account manager will work with customer service to ensure that your price lists are updated and issued prior to the implementation date of 1st July.  

BRAND	CATEGORY	RRP INC
LIQUITEX	ALL COLOUR - BASICS, HB & SB	4%
	ALL ADDITIVES & MEDIUMS	10%
	ALL CANVAS	10%
	SPRAYS / INKS / MARKERS	NO CHANGE
	PROFESSIONAL ACRYLIC GOUACHE	NO CHANGE
	ACCESSORIES - KNIFE / PALLETS / OTHER	NO CHANGE
	ALL BRUSHES	NO CHANGE
	ALL PAPER	NO CHANGE
WINSOR & NEWTON ACRYLIC	ALL COLOUR - PROFESSIONAL & GALERIA	4%
	ALL ADDITIVES & MEDIUMS	10%
WINSOR & NEWTON OIL	ALL COLOUR - ARTISTS' & WINTON	3%
	ALL ADDITIVES & MEDIUMS	3%
	ARTISAN / GRIFFIN / COLOUR & ADDITIVES	3%
WINSOR & NEWTON WATERCOLOUR	ALL COLOUR - PROFESSIONAL & COTMAN	3%
	PROFESSIONAL WATERCOLOUR ADDITIVES	3%
	MIXED MEDIA	3%
WINSOR & NEWTON STRETCHED CANVAS	ALL CANVAS & CANVAS BOARDS	10%
WINSOR & NEWTON GRAPHIC MARKER	ALL MARKERS	NO CHANGE
WINSOR & NEWTON GOUACHE	DESIGNERS GOUACHE	NO CHANGE
WINSOR & NEWTON ACCESSORY	ALL ACCESSORIES	NO CHANGE
WINSOR & NEWTON BRUSH	ALL BRUSHES	NO CHANGE
WINSOR & NEWTON DRY COLOUR	ALL DRY COLOUR & PENCILS	NO CHANGE
WINSOR & NEWTON PAPER	ALL PAPER	NO CHANGE
WINSOR & NEWTON INK	ALL INK	NO CHANGE
CONTE A PARIS	ALL CONTE	NO CHANGE
SNAZAROO	ALL SNAZAROO	NO CHANGE
LEFRANC & BOURGEOIS	ALL	0-10%

The cost price increases will be effective for all new orders placed after June 30th 2021. Please note to enable continued supply of products to our customers, we will not accept unusually high-volume orders before June 30th.

Updated price files are available to download from The Bank:

Colart Price List 2021 – July 1^st Increase

Colart NPD Price List 2021 – July 1^st Increase

We understand you may have concern over the general supply. We continue to strive to keep key lines in stock through purchasing raw materials at increased costs and from alternative sources to support this – whilst never sacrificing the quality that our brands are loved for.  This has enabled us to retain on sale our complete portfolio and as the ongoing situation continues to evolve, we will strive to keep the most important products and ranges available to you.

Now, more than ever, working closely with your Colart contact will ensure we plan together and deliver you and your customers the best possible experience.

Thank you for your continued support – with the ongoing increased demand for creative materials we are witnessing I feel confident that our future together remains bright.

Best regards,

Colart Fine Art & Graphics