Back in December, I slogged about a ridiculous commercial I was being forced to watch several times a day by basic cable television, hyping Snuggie, aka “the blanket with sleeves!” aka an insta-cult costume aka an effing backwards bathrobe.
At the time, commenters chimed in with their derision—”I would end a relationship over something like this,” “It’d be even better with a white hood!,” etc.—but as Gawker points out, the joke’s on all of us.
Here’s the New York Times on how the crap economy is helping Snuggie take over the world:
It is a sign of just how bad the advertising market is: infomercials are running during network prime time, filling slots that automobiles and banks once owned…..A. J. Khubani, the chief executive of TeleBrands, which sells products like the PedEgg, a callus remover, and EZ Combs, a hair accessory, said that his spots used to run in the afternoon or in late-night slots. In the last few months, though, they are regularly running on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC and Fox News during prime time. Over all, Mr. Khubani said, his prime-time advertising had increased by about 20 percent over last January. “I like to say that we’re getting beachfront property at trailer park prices,” Mr. Khubani said. “We’re clearing stuff at prime time, which we almost never do.”
And here’s Ad Age on Snuggie’s red-hot boom times:
The Snuggie blanket launched nationally on direct-response TV in October, just as the economy was slowing to a crawl, so the timing seemingly couldn’t have been worse. However, it turns out the timing couldn’t have been better. The quirky little blanket with sleeves has become the raiment of the zeitgeist, with more than 4 million units sold in just over three months….With 4 million of the blankets already shipped or on order, or just under $40 million in retail sales, Scott Boilen, president of Allstar Marketing Group, Hawthorne, N.Y., is laughing all the way to the bank. The company behind the Snuggie is moving the blankets out the door as fast as it can get Chinese suppliers to crank them out.
To see the ad that started it all, go here. (And to get started on your million-dollar infomercial idea inspired by the freakish success of Snuggie, go here.)
Someone should start scanning the gigapixel photo of the innauguration to tabulate a snuggie count. Perhaps snuggies were all purchased by McCain supporters. I know we’d all probably like to believe that’s true.
This story is so NPR 2 weeks ago.
further evidence that SLOG doesn’t know jack-squat about America.
“I put on my robe and wizard hat.” <–all I can think of when I see those ads.
When my wife is getting on my nerves, I threaten to buy her a Snuggie for Christmas. Yeah, I’m a bastard.
You should stop watching so much television and get some excersize.
The PedEgg is so disgusting. It’s a fucking cheese grater!
I woke up one morning and out of the 100 channels available to me from Comcast, I swear to God, 60+ channels were showing infomercials, including MSNBC, The Food Network, and FOX Sports NW.
I woke up one morning a few months ago and turned om the TV. I swear to God, of the 100 channels available on Comcast, more than half were infomercials.
@7 – it might be gross, but it is fan-freakin-tastic!
The snuggie makes me want to die. The fact that it’s made $40 million makes me want to kill.
Why not just bring back sexy sexy flannel nightgowns and stocking caps instead?
Jesus fuck, Brian, you histrionic hipster twatwaffle. You go right ahead; just remember the first rule of murder-suicides: do the suicide part first.
The new Snuggies will only come in institutional white and the sleeves will have buckles on them.
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbvi…
slanket got robbed.
I was in Bartel’s this morning and they have these infernal things on the shelves.
I understand NBC still has some unsold ad time for the Super Bowl.
The comedy show “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” on CBC did a parody of this add called the “Fuggly”. So funny!
I got 4 snuggies for christmas from my mother (I don’t think she realized they came 2 to a package). She thought they were kitchy and knew I loves me a good blanket. I’ve use one of them once and the sleeves just get in the way and wind up being dragged on the floor.
But, you all saying this thing is the downfall of society need to get off your fucking pretentious ass high horse. You know you got something just as bad hiding in a drawer somewhere.
I vividly remember Ronco and Kaytel commercials running in prime time as my family gathered around the console TV to watch Star Trek and the Brady bunch. That’s how we got the four volume Elvis set!
HA! there is a story on the news right now about a local couple who ordered snuggies and instead of receiving the two snuggies that they ordered …they have been receiving constant shipments from the company. And they are fed up.
The snuggie really is unstoppable!!!