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#FastFoodArmsRace: 7-Eleven Now Courting The Hipster Market with New Cups and Straws
I was wondering why there weren’t any movie based Slurpee cups this Summer.
Now I know why - 7-Eleven no longer wants movie fans, they instead want the hipster vote.
At least that’s what I assume by their new series of collectors cups and straws. The cup - a faux plastic mason jar. The straws - based on mustaches.
I feel like something just jumped a shark somewhere.
Here’s the full press release, direct from 7-Eleven. It’s kinda cringe-worthy.
7-Eleven® Rolls Out Mustache Straws, Mason Jar Mugs for Slurpee Summer of FunDallas (May 12, 2014) — It was only a matter of time. They’re seemingly everywhere — on party supplies, clothing, jewelry, candy, decals, at stache bashes, in party photo booths, even on cars and baby pacifiers.
Now, mustaches are on Slurpee® drink straws too, the perfect accompaniment to this summer’s new, novelty Slurpee cup — a 26-ounce refillable, plastic Mason jar mug. Both on-trend Slurpee accessories, sold separately, are made for summer fun and available exclusively at participating 7-Eleven® stores.
Retailing for 99 cents, the mustache straw comes in four styles and colors. The suggested retail price for the clear Mason jar mug with a colorful screw-top lid, reusable straw (sans mustache) and Slurpee logo is $2.99. The retro-like cup also comes in four colors — blue, green, orange or pink. The first Slurpee comes free with purchase of the Mason jar mug, and refills are discounted.
“Slurpee-lovers of all ages will have fun sporting their favorite stache straw with a mason jar mug, and enjoying a Slurpee drink is all about fun and flavor,“ said Laura Gordon, 7-Eleven vice president of brand innovation and marketing. “While everyone loves Slurpee drinks year-round, summertime is definitely Slurpee season. I suspect we will see lots of Slurpee mustache photos on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (@slurpee or @7eleven).
“People in our office have unofficially named the four mustache styles,“ Gordon said. “The British, the handlebar, the Hogan after wrestler Hulk Hogan, and the Swanson, as in Ron Swanson, a character on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation" sit-com series played by Nick Offerman. I think it will be interesting to see which mustaches sell best. Of course, people can buy all four to match their Slurpee moods or if they want to slurp incognito.“
Colorful, tongue-in-cheek 7-Eleven billboards in select markets feature a costumed man and animals sporting Slurpee staches. The mustache straws and Mason jar mugs will be available at participating 7-Eleven stores during the summer while supplies last.
Wednesday May 28, 2014