7-Eleven recently turned a dozen stores in the U.S. into Kwik-E-Marts, the fictional convenience stores of "The Simpsons" fame, as part of a campaign to hype the July 27 opening of "The Simpsons Movie."
Today I made a special trip to check one out in Burbank, about 45 minutes from where I live. (A friend and I detoured there on our way back from a trip to the Palm Springs area.)
There was actually a line to get into the store - but the crowd was lively and friendly (as were the staff, who were clearly getting a kick out of the whole thing, as if it were Halloween in July). The 7-Eleven sign had been converted to a Kwik-E-Mart sign. They sold Buzz Cola, Squishees (a Simpsons knockoff of Slurpees), and cartoonishly pink donuts ...of which I bought a half-dozen. No Duff beer, however.
I have no idea why I was so excited about this, but I was - maybe because I like The Simpsons. Or maybe because I appreciate a really good marketing gimmick - which this was.
12 comments:
I had one of those Simpsons doughnuts the other day. Pretty tasty. How fun to get to go to a Kwik-E-Mart!
This is so cool!! The Kwik-E-Mart!!
You know Jill, I am digging this blog very much. Don't be surprised if you show up under the Undiscovered Talent, although it looks like you are already discovered!
That is awesome... I need to find one.
I don't have one near me I don't think.. what a cute idea :)
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment.
:)
TLLT
No Kwik-E-Mart is complete without Apu. Did you get to meet him? ;)
I love this kind of marketing! Hilarious! It makes me think of those moments watching Survivor when the camera lingers lustfully upon a can of Mountain Dew. Did you put your hair up like Marge?
Kwik-E-Mart... it's a great way to market. As well as funny... quite entertaining on my part. I don't watch The Simpsons but those donuts sound pretty tasty...
~Epoch [z]
i for one, get painfully excited when fictional things become a part of reality, even if it's only momentary. i plan on visiting one of those. i really want to try the donuts.
That's wicked! I wish they would do something like that in the UK. Simpsons rock :)
Wow --- this entry generated a lot of excitement. Tells you something about: America; The Simpsons; Breaking Rules (my personal favorite); Jill Smolinski; Bloggers (some of whom are lurkers and do not allow their fingertips to touch the keypad, but when faced with the siren call of luridly glazed donuts lose all control and say Yes! Yes!).
Whew.
I also think a Kwik-e mart allows anonymity. All too important for donut grazing.
I totally lucked out and went there opening day since it's right up the way. I have to say, I'm still so surprised when I drive by and there are STILL lines out there. I think I'm in more surprised though that my blog routinely still gets hits from the photos and post I put up that day.
I agree with you about these. Well someday Ill create a blog to compete you! lolz.
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