Charmin
 |
|
| Product type | Toilet Paper |
|---|---|
| Owner | Procter & Gamble |
| Country | USA |
| Introduced | 1928 Hoberg Paper Company, Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Related brands | Bounty, Puffs, Pampers |
| Markets | North America and Europe |
| Ambassador(s) | Mr. Whipple (Dick Wilson) |
| Tagline | "Enjoy the go" |
| Website | http://www.charmin.com/ |
Charmin /ˈʃɑːrmᵻn/ is a brand of toilet paper manufactured by Procter & Gamble, featured in a 21-year advertising campaign.
Contents
History
The Charmin name was first created in 1928 by the Hoberg Paper Company in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In 1950, Hoberg changed its name to Charmin Paper Company and continued to produce bath tissue, paper napkins, and other paper products. Procter & Gamble (P&G) acquired Charmin Paper Company in 1957,[1] but sold the right to make and market the product in Europe (where it is now known as Cushelle) to SCA in 2008.
Advertising
In an advertising campaign that lasted over twenty years, American advertisements featured actor Dick Wilson, playing the fictional grocer Mr. George Whipple. Mr. Whipple told his customers, "Please don't squeeze the Charmin!", emphasizing its softness in more than 500 commercials between 1964 and 1985.[2]
The Charmin Bear was created by D'arcy Advertising and introduced in 2000. By 2004, Procter & Gamble re-branded the packaging, replacing the (35-year-old/generic) baby with The Charmin Bear in a Super Bowl commercial.
[3] The new animated advertising campaign was called "Call of Nature." This coincided with the launch of Charmin in Canada. The Charmin bear is now mascot for Charmin Ultra Strong and Charmin Ultra Soft.
The country song "Don' Squeeze My Sharmon," which was a minor hit for Charlie Walker in 1967, was inspired by the ad campaign for Charmin.
British rebrand to "Cushelle"
From February 2010, the product's British brand name was changed to Cushelle by manufacturer SCA.[4] There is also a new mascot, a koala named Koala. In the advertisements for Cushelle, they are voiced-over by Robert Webb.
Times Square Charmin restrooms
In 2006, Charmin opened up public restrooms in New York City's Times Square. The location is now a new Disney Store. The convenience of having clean restrooms in Times Square during the Christmas season was a novel idea.
Slogans
- Don't Squeeze the Charmin (1960s)
- Once it's gotcha, it's gotcha! (1980s)
- Ch-ch Choose Charmin. (1993–1997)
- Best for "Bear" Bottoms. (1997–1999)
- Cha-cha-cha Charmin. (1999–2007) (2013–present in Latin America) Music tag written by Composer Fred Weinberg[5]
- Less Is More! (2000–2004)
- Look for it in the red/blue package. (2007-2010)
- Enjoy The Go. (2010–present)
Environmental impact
In February 2009,[6] Greenpeace advised consumers not to use Charmin toilet paper stating that it is bad for the environment.[7]
German rebrand to Zewa
In 2008, Charmin was rebranded Zewa in Germany. There was no mascot in the commercials, but in the first Zewa commercial the Charmin bear was seen.
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ [1] Associated Press report, November 19, 2007 ("Wilson appeared in over 500 commercials for Charmin between 1964 and 1985"), accessed same day Archived November 21, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ [2] Media Business Advertising May 6, 1993 (P.& G. Sacrifices White Cloud in Battle of Brands)
- ↑ [3] Mad.co.uk January 25, 2010 (Charmin rebrands to Cushelle)
- ↑ Fred Weinberg
- ↑ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/02/25/greenpeace-releases-latest-recycled-tissue-and-toilet-paper-guide/
- ↑ http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/assets/binaries/tissue-guide-view-at-a-glance
