A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Marketing With Tattoos

Continuing this discussion of mainstreaming, I’m in 7/11 this morning and they have a new energy drink called “Inked”. It’s got a faux-tribal border, a “rock” font, and a neo-Japanese wave in the middle, and the flavor is called “Razzle Dazzle” — could there be a more embarrassing name? It’s as if they’re making fun of you for buying it. I’m reminded of the scene in Family Guy where Lois is running for mayor, and realizes that just by saying “9-11″ and “Jesus” and “terrorists” Giuliani-style, all of a suddenly the crowd starts cheering and buys whatever she’s saying… What, are tattoo fans so gullible that they’ll buy an energy drink just because it says “cool razzle dazzle tatties” on it?*

inked-drink.jpg

* Yes, I bought it. It tastes like a sort of watered down “Tahiti Treat”.

Comments

134 responses to “Marketing With Tattoos”

  1. Kenevin Avatar

    Hey, Shannon. Which email account should we contact you on?

  2. Kenevin Avatar

    Hey, Shannon. Which email account should we contact you on?

  3. James Blackinson Avatar
    James Blackinson

    Haha my partner works for a company who designs concepts like this. They made one directed at tennis players not long ago here in italy called Raquette. And just because the country was experiencing a 6 month tennis fever they sold huge amounts, as the trend has died so has the product.

    Maybe if the miami ink phase dies this drink will to lol!

  4. James Blackinson Avatar
    James Blackinson

    Haha my partner works for a company who designs concepts like this. They made one directed at tennis players not long ago here in italy called Raquette. And just because the country was experiencing a 6 month tennis fever they sold huge amounts, as the trend has died so has the product.

    Maybe if the miami ink phase dies this drink will to lol!

  5. Shaun Avatar
    Shaun

    It’s funny because there is an energy drink in Australia called “mother” and some of the advertising material for that would look great as a tattoo..
    evil vines flowers and venus fly traps and birds being eaten.

    That drink however is hilarious, especially the flavour.

  6. Shaun Avatar
    Shaun

    It’s funny because there is an energy drink in Australia called “mother” and some of the advertising material for that would look great as a tattoo..
    evil vines flowers and venus fly traps and birds being eaten.

    That drink however is hilarious, especially the flavour.

  7. Scott Avatar

    Must… drink… Inked…

  8. Scott Avatar

    Must… drink… Inked…

  9. SpeedoApe Avatar
    SpeedoApe

    Don’t care to try it, since i dont buy energy drinks. HOWEVER! Dude you got some nice looking nails….Do you have them done or what? im just sayin’….
    SpeedoApe

  10. SpeedoApe Avatar
    SpeedoApe

    Don’t care to try it, since i dont buy energy drinks. HOWEVER! Dude you got some nice looking nails….Do you have them done or what? im just sayin’….
    SpeedoApe

  11. Zar Avatar
    Zar

    on one hand, i don’t *want* to buy this because it’ll just lend credence to their silly marketing campaign.. but tahiti treat was delicious.. decisions, decisions.

  12. Zar Avatar
    Zar

    on one hand, i don’t *want* to buy this because it’ll just lend credence to their silly marketing campaign.. but tahiti treat was delicious.. decisions, decisions.

  13. meaghan Avatar
    meaghan

    that can has some hella sick tats.

  14. meaghan Avatar
    meaghan

    that can has some hella sick tats.

  15. Nadiah Avatar

    haha it reminds me of relentless a little (http://www.comunitazione.it/img/1840/coca-cola-relentless-energy-drink..jpg)
    everytime I see it it just makes me think of a gothic tattoo

  16. Nadiah Avatar

    haha it reminds me of relentless a little (http://www.comunitazione.it/img/1840/coca-cola-relentless-energy-drink..jpg)
    everytime I see it it just makes me think of a gothic tattoo

  17. Shannon Avatar

    Kenevin – My email is [email protected]

  18. Shannon Avatar

    Kenevin – My email is [email protected]

  19. Ratty Avatar
    Ratty

    …You do have really nice nails. I’d never spotted that before.

    We’ve got something similar over here called Relentless, which has ruined my planned first tattoo – They’ve started putting a bit from Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage [But I have lived, and have not lived in vain; My mind may lose its force, my blood its fire; And my frame perish even in conquering pain; But there is that within me which shall tire Torture and Time, and breathe when I expire.] on the cans – Something which I’ve wanted to get inked since I was fourteen and first read it in school.

    Damned marketing buffs. Then again, the stuff tastes like sweeties and does its job well, so I can’t begrudge them.

  20. Ratty Avatar
    Ratty

    …You do have really nice nails. I’d never spotted that before.

    We’ve got something similar over here called Relentless, which has ruined my planned first tattoo – They’ve started putting a bit from Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage [But I have lived, and have not lived in vain; My mind may lose its force, my blood its fire; And my frame perish even in conquering pain; But there is that within me which shall tire Torture and Time, and breathe when I expire.] on the cans – Something which I’ve wanted to get inked since I was fourteen and first read it in school.

    Damned marketing buffs. Then again, the stuff tastes like sweeties and does its job well, so I can’t begrudge them.

  21. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    this showed up at my 7-11 about 6 months ago. along with an oversized, glossy madison ave looking tattoo mag by the same name.

    myself, i’ve always preferred bawls ( http://www.bawls.com/ ) who, strangely enough, now seem to be selling paintball gear with their name all over it.

  22. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    this showed up at my 7-11 about 6 months ago. along with an oversized, glossy madison ave looking tattoo mag by the same name.

    myself, i’ve always preferred bawls ( http://www.bawls.com/ ) who, strangely enough, now seem to be selling paintball gear with their name all over it.

  23. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    I forgot to mention – they’ve got Bud Light mixed with clamato a couple doors down from the Inked.

    Just… strange, the things you find at 7-11

  24. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    I forgot to mention – they’ve got Bud Light mixed with clamato a couple doors down from the Inked.

    Just… strange, the things you find at 7-11

  25. blackasher Avatar
    blackasher

    Mm.. Tahiti Treat. is that still around?

  26. blackasher Avatar
    blackasher

    Mm.. Tahiti Treat. is that still around?

  27. SeanyBwoy Avatar

    Does it say “CHIKAAA” under the wave? wtf is that?

  28. SeanyBwoy Avatar

    Does it say “CHIKAAA” under the wave? wtf is that?

  29. Colin Avatar
    Colin

    Everything sort of fits into a certain “Hardcore” niche there – the font, the name, the tribal tattoo designs, the wave – but razzle dazzle? Just where does that fit in?

  30. Colin Avatar
    Colin

    Everything sort of fits into a certain “Hardcore” niche there – the font, the name, the tribal tattoo designs, the wave – but razzle dazzle? Just where does that fit in?

  31. theXanadian Avatar

    14: I think it’s “Chikara” as in the Japanese word.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikara
    It could also mean that they are being sponsored by Chikara Pro Wrestling ^^

  32. theXanadian Avatar

    14: I think it’s “Chikara” as in the Japanese word.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikara
    It could also mean that they are being sponsored by Chikara Pro Wrestling ^^

  33. LuckyG Avatar
    LuckyG

    Donald Rumsfeld presents Inked “Razzle Dazzle” – the drink that tastes like watered-down Tahiti Treat.

    Do they still sell Tahiti Treat? I used to love that as a kid but I haven’t seen it around in almost a decade.

  34. LuckyG Avatar
    LuckyG

    Donald Rumsfeld presents Inked “Razzle Dazzle” – the drink that tastes like watered-down Tahiti Treat.

    Do they still sell Tahiti Treat? I used to love that as a kid but I haven’t seen it around in almost a decade.

  35. Arch-Typical Avatar
    Arch-Typical

    Shannon, it’s kind of funny thst you not only bought it, but are now giving them free press in the biggest forum of their target market. Score one for them I guess.

    #11, you just admitted to preferring the taste of bawls…..

  36. Arch-Typical Avatar
    Arch-Typical

    Shannon, it’s kind of funny thst you not only bought it, but are now giving them free press in the biggest forum of their target market. Score one for them I guess.

    #11, you just admitted to preferring the taste of bawls…..

  37. SeanyBwoy Avatar

    ahh yes…”chikara”..the Japanese word meaning power, capability, or influence….that make much more sense…i need glasses….they should have just put the “strength” kanji on there, that really would have appealed to the tattoo “mainstream”

  38. SeanyBwoy Avatar

    ahh yes…”chikara”..the Japanese word meaning power, capability, or influence….that make much more sense…i need glasses….they should have just put the “strength” kanji on there, that really would have appealed to the tattoo “mainstream”

  39. bluelube Avatar

    Damn you Arch-Typical – you made my comment before me!!!!

    Does the lame factor of this product say more about the marketing people or the target audience, though?

  40. bluelube Avatar

    Damn you Arch-Typical – you made my comment before me!!!!

    Does the lame factor of this product say more about the marketing people or the target audience, though?

  41. Malarkey Avatar
    Malarkey

    @ #20: Depends on how well it sells…

  42. Malarkey Avatar
    Malarkey

    @ #20: Depends on how well it sells…

  43. ishinenotburn Avatar
    ishinenotburn

    yah but whats the can going to think when its older?

  44. ishinenotburn Avatar
    ishinenotburn

    yah but whats the can going to think when its older?

  45. albert Avatar
    albert

    haha we call my chemistry teacher Razzle Dazzle
    is this stuff available in the US?

  46. albert Avatar
    albert

    haha we call my chemistry teacher Razzle Dazzle
    is this stuff available in the US?

  47. John Osborne Avatar
    John Osborne

    I drink arizona green tea. It has some pretty traditional looking japanese trees on it and I thought to myself, that almost looks like a tattoo! I must buy it! Man, considering how cool that can looks, it must be good! I have to get my tattooed hands on some of that! Cheers to you megacorp inc. for peddling anything you can to try to make a buck off a part of society you bitch about at home! I think ill get all buzzed up on this tatt-a-licious drink and go to my local beauty parlour and get some gun piercings! then im going to superstore usa cuz they sell real body jewelry in high quality 316l. I know that means super good quality!
    By now I hope you picked up on the sarcasm in this little rant.

  48. John Osborne Avatar
    John Osborne

    I drink arizona green tea. It has some pretty traditional looking japanese trees on it and I thought to myself, that almost looks like a tattoo! I must buy it! Man, considering how cool that can looks, it must be good! I have to get my tattooed hands on some of that! Cheers to you megacorp inc. for peddling anything you can to try to make a buck off a part of society you bitch about at home! I think ill get all buzzed up on this tatt-a-licious drink and go to my local beauty parlour and get some gun piercings! then im going to superstore usa cuz they sell real body jewelry in high quality 316l. I know that means super good quality!
    By now I hope you picked up on the sarcasm in this little rant.

  49. Lexci Million Avatar

    “RAZZLE DAZZLE TATTIES”!!!!!!! LMFAO!!!!!

  50. Lexci Million Avatar

    “RAZZLE DAZZLE TATTIES”!!!!!!! LMFAO!!!!!

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