If you are a fan of TV’s “The Simpsons” then you must have been overjoyed to see that some 7-Eleven stores have temporarily turned into Kwik-E-Marts, the fictional convenience stores frequented by characters on “The Simpsons.”
About a dozen 7-Eleven stores across the country completely transformed their shops (both inside and out) into Kwik-E-Marts, while most of the 6,000-plus other 7-Elevens in North America are selling items featured on the animated show including Buzz Cola, KrustyO’s cereal and Squishees, the slushy drink knockoff of Slurpees.
The store transformations are part of a campaign to promote the July 27th opening of “The Simpsons Movie,” which marks the big-screen debut for the long-running television cartoon. On the show Homer Simpson and crew frequently visit their local Kwik-E-Mart to stock up on unhealthy snacks.
The U.S. locations where a 7-Eleven store was transformed into a Kwik-E-Mart are New York City; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Burbank, California; Los Angeles; Henderson, Nevada; Orlando, Florida; Mountain View, California; Seattle; and Bladensburg, Maryland. Those locations not only feature “Simpsons” inspired snacks, they also had their exteriors flocked in industrial foam and put up new signs to replicate the animated look of Kwik-E-Marts. In addition, life-size models of Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge and other residents of the fictional Springfield were placed around the stores and have fast become the most sought after items to take souvenir pics in front of.
But “The Simpsons” mania doesn’t stop there; in some cases 7-Eleven has contracted with manufacturers of other as-seen-on-“The Simpsons” products to make their Kwik-E-Mart counterparts. For example, Malt-O-Meal, the Northfield, Minnesota, cereal maker, is creating a recipe for KrustyO’s. Meanwhile, other existing products will simply be renamed. For instance the Slurpee will be sold as “WooHoo! Blue Vanilla” Squishee during the month of July.
“The Simpsons” Take 7-Eleven campaign follows on the heels of other recent examples of reverse product placement, including Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, which spun out of the Harry Potter books and movies, and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurants, which opened after the movie “Forrest Gump.”
Do you live near a recently revamped Kwik-E-Mart?
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