Smoking Products... Ethical?

[i'm_not_a_farmer!]

This question stems from a very good friend of mine who invented a product for smokers last year http://www.pixi.biz/

It is a good product and has some great promotional value but people are scared of taking it up due to its connection to smoking. He actually appeared on the Dragon's Den and although they didn't give him any cash and complained about the ethics, off-screen they really liked the product and thought it had legs, proving that people are scared to get involved.

I just wondered what people's thoughts on it were.

Also, for all the promotional items people/sourcers on here, would you stock such a product?

John

[dcraigdc]

I think the product is an excellent idea but you will be hard pushed to find somebody who will market it in the public arena.

I don't think it's that people are scared by the idea, I think it's more that they just dont agree with promoting something that is linked to the biggest cause of preventable death in the UK.

However, I do think it would have EXCELLENT prospects in things like exhibitions due to its unique aspect. On that score you should probably ask Sarah @ Ink Promotions

[Jayne]

You cannot see you product, it doesn't fit in the web page right, so I cannot comment until I get to see it.

I'm using IE to view the site.

Jayne :D

[i'm_not_a_farmer!]

You cannot see you product, it doesn't fit in the web page right, so I cannot comment until I get to see it.


true but if you go to the instructions page it shows you I think. Not my site but i'll let him know!

[Dawg]

Can't see in Firefox either

[clairemackaness]

it's a good product, but I would want to see the full range of designs etc avaialable.

I'm always loosing my lighter so it would be a good gadget to have.

[puravida]

All very well but how do you link this to your brand???

[Joyous]

Couldn't see it either in IE6. Could only see a white rectangle with two red lines on a blue background.

Jayne, is that what you saw?

Joy

[i'm_not_a_farmer!]

it's a good product, but I would want to see the full range of designs etc avaialable.

The only designs available at the moment are with the Pixi logo I believe. However, they could be branded with anything, if the order was big enough. We spent a day going round Camden Market and there was a lot of good feedback. You could put band names on, sayings such as 'giving up is for quiters' etc - ANY sort of mass market design. Dare I say it, the ubiquitous cannabis leaf would work well at Camden Market for example!

I'm always loosing my lighter so it would be a good gadget to have.

If you PM me with your address I'll post some out to you! :)

[Jayne]

Couldn't see it either in IE6. Could only see a white rectangle with two red lines on a blue background.

Jayne, is that what you saw?

Joy

Yep, with just a tiny bit of the top of the product showing, most of the text was cut off.

[Richard Conyard]

Best of luck with the product, but as a smoker I doubt I would use one. I can manage to keep a lighter on me, and when a few of the cigarettes have gone from the packet I can keep the lighter in the packet.

Maybe you should promote it as a gimic with the cigarette companies?

[Jayne]

Oh I get it now, it's a gadget that clips onto cig packets to put your lighter in!

Well in that case, i'd forget it. When we smoked (none smoker now :D ) we had leather cigarette packet holders that had a space for a lighter and a clip for your belt. They are not expensive and are much nicer looking than a clip on plastic thing. I cannot see it making your friend lots of money.

Jayne :D

[i'm_not_a_farmer!]

Best of luck with the product, but as a smoker I doubt I would use one. I can manage to keep a lighter on me, and when a few of the cigarettes have gone from the packet I can keep the lighter in the packet.

Funny, I have loads of them here but dont use them - I manage to look after mine too!

Maybe you should promote it as a gimic with the cigarette companies?

Agreed. They are purely a gimmick at the end of the day. He's had a lot of meetings with cigarette companies but no-ones buying.

What I was trying to get at originally was regarding the ethics of smoking products like his. Would UKBF members steer clear of working with smoking related products and companies because they thought it was ethically wrong??

[Sarah-Ink Promotions]

Thanks for the mention Daniel! :)

I do sell smokers products and deal with two of the biggest tobacco companies and personally have no problem with selling those products. Ive always found smokers items, i.e. matches, lighters etc... to be popular promotional items especially with nightclubs and bars. If you want any more info feel free to contact me

Sarah :)

[Cornish Steve]

What I was trying to get at originally was regarding the ethics of smoking products like his. Would UKBF members steer clear of working with smoking related products and companies because they thought it was ethically wrong?
It depends on the individual and the code of ethics established for the business. Different people will likely give different answers.

What about products that promote drinking, given that drunk driving causes so much death and suffering every year? What about sweets that result in obesity and associated diseases? What about television sets that promote inactivity and ailments that result from a lack of exercise? What about video games that tempt children away from their homework and being a productive member of society? The list goes on and on, and we'd have few opportunities left!

In our case, we defined a mission statement and a set of core values at the very beginning of our venture. They've guided us every step of the way, and they would provide a basis for deciding whether or not to pursue a new opportunity.

[SillyJokes]

I wouldn't want to promote my business with a cigarette themed item even though we sell a lot of practical jokes based around this theme and also carry cigarette holders.

I think smoking is a very bad thing and would not promote it actively.

However in our defense we also sell fake lit cigarettes and have even been mentioned in The Stage as the place to get them because smoking in theatres is banned in Scotland and when a part calls for a smoker they suggested using our fake lit cigs.