Women Targeted by Tobacco Giant R.J. Reynolds
As if women don’t have enough health problems to deal with, including the fact that lung cancer is a major cause of death among the female population, R.J. Reynolds is launching a new Camel campaign targeted toward women. An editorial in yesterday’s New York Times lambasts Reynolds for yet another obnoxious, insidious marketing scheme:
So now comes R. J. Reynolds with its new female-friendly Camel No. 9 and a campaign to promote it costing an estimated $25 million to $50 million. The name is supposed to evoke “cloud nine” or being “dressed to the nines,” according to Reynolds marketers, although some think it may also suggest luxury perfumes like Chanel No. 19 and romantic songs like “Love Potion No. 9.” As described by Stuart Elliott in last Thursday’s Times, the company is reaching out to women with slogans like “light and luscious,” hot pink and teal packages and ads adorned with flowers.
This would all seem laughable if it were not so pernicious. No doubt Reynolds will fall back on a tobacco company mantra: it’s not trying to woo new smokers to a dangerous product; it’s just trying to convert existing ones to its brand. But we all know that the tobacco business will wither away unless it finds new smokers to replace those who quit or die.
What do you think? Does big tobacco have your best interests at heart? My vote is NO.
Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King
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2 opinions for Women Targeted by Tobacco Giant R.J. Reynolds
brittany
Mar 19, 2007 at 1:52 pm
i most def smoked camel number 9s strictly because i wanted the package because it was pink. haha. its not good, but its true, and it works more than people realize. all they want from me is my money, they could care less if i actually am healthy. Just as long as they can keep a pack of cigarettes in my purse they’re happy little people. and, i feel ashamed, because i fall for the good ideas they have for advertising for the cigarettes.
Kristen King
Mar 19, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Brittany, there are a lot of people who get caught up in their advertising — that’s why the tobacco industry is flourishing! It’s important that you realize that it’s not healthy, and that these companies don’t care about anything but the bottom line. And who can blame them? Their job is to sell their product. It’s just a shame that their product is so, so bad for you.
But the great thing is that you get to choose what you put in your body. Choose to be healthy, girl!
kk
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