Redhead Marketing

Promoting Lifesaver Day

August 19th, 2009

August 19th is Lifesavers Day ~ Life Saver mints were formulated in 1912 by Clarence Crane, a producer of chocolates in Cleveland, Ohio. He had the candy manufactured by a pill maker who discovered that his machiner only worked if it punched a hole in the center of each candy which lead to the name Lifesavers.  And on August 19, 1913 the trademark was issued about the same time that  Edward Noble bought the formula, manufactured the sweets and had them sold as Pep-O-Mint Life Savers. He established the Mint Products Company in New York City. With takeovers in the confectionary industry the formula has been resold many times but Life Savers survives as a distinctive product.
 
This advertisement shows an enduring example of good product design: the ring shape of Life Savers represents a miniature ‘life preserver’ (a life buoy, vest or jacket), a safety device that originated in the mid-19th century. The sale of Life Savers in small aluminum-foil rolls contributed to their distinctive branding. Edward Noble encouraged retailers to place them next to their registers to promote them and increase sales, which is still a practice today.

Check out this black and white clip of the Lifesavers factory aimed at a 1920 audience:  http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/lifesavers-advertisement/clip2/  Notice how it has all the elements of typical black and white movies of the time, villain, heroine, secret plot and solution.

Did you know: 54 miles of Life Savers roll candy is produced on an average day? More than 46 billion Life Savers are produced annually, weighing in at 57.5 million pounds. It’s estimated that there are a million locations in the United States where you can buy the famous roll candy.

How about a campaign called “Customers Like You are a Real Lifesaver!”  Send them a mailing with lifesavers custom imprinted with your company name and logo.

Go here to grab a template and Make Your Own Personalized LifeSaver ® Labels http://www.wrapcandy.com/Lifesaver_labels.php

Entry Filed under: Heidi's Daily Tips,Promotional Items