Kids and Nicotine
Much like fire and gasoline, kids and nicotine are a bad combination. Thanks to RJ Reynolds, kids are starting to consume nicotine through candy.
I was going to write a long entry about this, but I want your opinion instead. Topics to discuss can include anything from ethics to marketing. The sky’s the limit. What’s your take?
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Category: Welt | Tags: Advertising, branding, marketing, nicotine candy, RJ Reynolds, Welt Branding 5 comments »
April 19th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
How can kids get down with this? Where’s the cache?
April 22nd, 2010 at 8:16 am
First, let’s not jump the gun. This product is not being marketed by Camel as “Candy”. However, more than likely, they knew that the public would make that association. Camel is an expert at package design branding, dating back to the 40s. In fact, the entire industry has followed suite. http://www.chickenhead.com/truth/1940s.html
In my opinion, Camel has taken it to a knew level in the past 5 years with the introduction of new colorful and modern packaging, starting with their not so popular Crush line of cigarettes. It’s such a gray area though. Where can the line be drawn between successful eye catching, easy to understand packaging/marketing and packaging that is truly directed at children (whether subconsciously or direct)?
As a business, I think Camel does an excellent job at marketing their products. On the other hand, I think they should definitely be a little more responsible with the products (design aspects) that they put out there. Just as manufacturing companies are being held to tighter environmental laws and regulations, the marketing side of the cigarette/alcohol industry should be restricted to what pollution they are putting out in the market.
Having a uniform set of rules/laws, is just not that easy. Especially when the government makes so much money off the sales tax of these products.
April 26th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Candy man,
You are the most wishy washy t-shirt designer I have ever seen comment on a blog.
If the point of a “comment section” is to share a point of view, then why not pick one and go with it?
Pussy!
April 27th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Wow. I’m assuming that was all in good humor. My intent was not to be “wishy washy” and I sincerely apologize if it hurt your feelings:)
I clearly stated my opinion, “I think they should definitely be a little more responsible with the products (design aspects) that they put out there. Just as manufacturing companies are being held to tighter environmental laws and regulations, the marketing side of the cigarette/alcohol industry should be restricted to what pollution they are putting out in the market.”
If by “wishy washy” your referring to the first two paragraphs, I was only shedding light on the gray area of the marketing of cigarettes.
I’m probably being a douche for replying to your comment.
May 28th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
With what is known about the affects of nicotine and the long term health issues surrounding kids and smoking, I am shocked to see that RJ would want to venture into this market with a product that will be a lighting rod and evoke all sorts of negative publicity and possible governmental action. Kids and nicotine do not mix and RJ knows that…as a parent I wonder if RJ’s plan here is to create a firestorm of publicity and make this new product the “bad-boy”, have to have it for cool kids…sad as there are so many other ways to do something positive for kids. A poor choice of product development monies if I have even seen one.