My parents recently treated themselves to a new toaster, finally replacing the one they'd had since Glasnost. Affixed to said toaster was this sticker promoting its many features, one of which stands out as especially noteworthy.
"Sits Sideways or Faces Forward."
Consider this: the sticker was inside the box. It was stuck to the side of the actual toaster. So the only way anyone was going to see it was if they were sufficiently impressed by the reviews or the slick exterior packaging to plop down however many dollars at the local Bed, Bath & Beyond and take the toaster home. The good folks at Cuisinart clearly put this sticker there to be the closer.
Still unconvinced of the incomprehensible awesomeness of this simple kitchen appliance you've just purchased? BAM! Reassuring sticker.
This sticker is it. The final sell. That last bit of marketing to make sure that toaster stays unreturned and in your kitchen. And what stupendous, remarkable feature did the earnest simpletons of the Cuisinart marketing team (Toaster Division) choose to highlight? The fact that it can be safely rotated 90 degrees.
They're promoting the unquestioned certainty of being able to lift it up and place it back down so that it occupies a different position in three-dimensional space. They're trying to sell you on the toaster by reminding you that it is a thing that exists. It is not a toaster in the abstract. "Ceci est un toasteur."
Of course, the genius of it is that you can't argue with it. Whether the toaster is truly compact or whether the LED controls are easy to use are matters of judgment, but no person will tell you that this toaster can not be picked up and rotated.
And I guess it works. My parents kept the toaster. They've even rotated it a few times to no ill effect on its toasting capabilities. It's opened up to them a whole new toasting experience in which toast can be prepared while being twirled about the z-axis.
They're thrilled.
Came across another selling point for the toaster. It can be operated with either the right or left hand. Very ambidexterous I must say. I preferred the toast from the left.
One of your parents.
Posted by: Simon's father | 02/10/2012 at 06:05 PM