GIANT CHEETOS

I read an article in the Tuesday, March 31, USA Today that was titled “Don’t worry, buy happy (Cheerful stuff sells well these days).” It talked about how the savviest consumer product manufacturers are making happy stuff, products that make people smile, and they are selling extremely well. The manufacturers/marketers include Frito-Lay, Kraft, Proctor & Gamble, and Denny’s; and the target market is grown-ups. People are looking for things that might relieve stress, even for a little while.

Here are some of these HAPPY items:

Giant Cheetos (Frito-Lay) – shaped like a golf ball, can be eaten whole or in several bites (coming soon)

Pancake Puppies (Denny’s) – doughnut hole-sized appetizers served in a sundae cup (now available) – the article didn’t say how much fat is in one serving of these puppies

Oreo Fun Stix (Kraft) – straw shaped sticks that can be used to drink milk and then the milk-soaked stick can be eaten (coming out this month)

Bubble Calendar – a four-foot tall wall calendar with bubble wrap-like bubbles that can be popped each day ($20.99 at bubblecalendar.com) – this sounds more stressful than relaxing to me