Embracing our quirks is what makes us unique. As someone who thrives on blending hard work with a touch of humor, I previously shared some WTF facts that intertwined business, marketing, and random tidbits. Now, because why not, here’s Part 2—another collection of facts designed to make you say, “Wait, what?”
Fact 1: A Canadian university’s safe sex campaign backfired when they handed out condoms stapled to informational leaflets—the staples punctured the condoms, rendering them useless.
Fact 2: The song “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette doesn’t describe a single ironic situation, making the song itself… ironic.
Fact 3: Four actors who portrayed the Marlboro Man in advertisements died of lung cancer—a grim twist of fate for a cigarette mascot.
Fact 4: People waited in line for hours to shop at Amazon’s new store that didn’t require people to wait in lines.
Fact 5: Canned food was invented decades before the can opener, leaving people to get creative with their meal prep.
Fact 6: Sloppy Joes weren’t named for their messiness; they got their name from the bar where they were invented—Sloppy Joe’s Bar.
Fact 7: The creator of Match.com lost his girlfriend to someone she met on Match.com, proving even founders aren’t immune to the platform’s matchmaking.
Fact 8: In 2019, a real estate agent in Lansing, Michigan, dressed as the ‘Scream’ movie’s Ghostface character for listing photos, leading to over 1.2 million views and a quick sale.
Fact 9: Sony once hired actors to pose as tourists asking strangers to take photos of them using a new camera phone, a stealth marketing tactic that blurred ethical lines.
Fact 10: A pizzeria in Norwich priced their Hawaiian pizza at £100 to express disdain for pineapple as a topping, generating widespread media attention. (But I like Pineapple on Pizza :|)
Fact 11: Coca-Cola’s ‘Happiness Machine’ campaign involved a vending machine dispensing unexpected items like pizzas and flowers, delighting customers and going viral.
Fact 12: Hotmail’s initial growth strategy involved adding “Get your free e-mail at Hotmail” to outgoing emails, leading to 12 million users in 18 months.
Fact 13: Dude Wipes, a toilet wipes brand targeted at men, used humor and unconventional marketing to grow into a $200 million business. You’ve definitely seen them, but incase you haven’t.
Fact 14: The influx of odd food collaborations, such as Coca-Cola Oreos, is often seen as a marketing strategy to entice consumers into buying new, quirky products. (This one was because I felt I needed some business talk here)
I said 30 facts but I have work I have to do, so see ya!
