It's been another weird week in retail. Crocs teamed up with marshmallow brand Peeps, Tito's sent out a warning as hand sanitizer demand grows and Balenciaga released a new product that nobody has time for.
This, and more, in this week's retail therapy.
The grandest footwear in the Easter parade
Crocs this week unveiled a new design inspired by an Easter classic.
In collaboration with Peeps, the shoemaker is selling limited edition Crocs that come in bright colors with a "sugar-like texture reminiscent of the marshmallow candy." The best part? The shoes also come with 3D Peeps-shaped Jibbitz attached to the tops of the shoes.
"This is the first time Crocs is partnering with a candy brand, and what better way to keep our fans on their toes than by pairing our iconic clog with an iconic Easter candy brand for a one-of-a-kind collaboration," Crocs Chief Marketing Officer Terence Reilly said in a statement.
Now as unsightly as this creation is, it is far from the first unusual partnership the brand has formed. Last month, Crocs teamed up with fast-food chain KFC to release two pairs of fried chicken-inspired clogs. The Bucket Clog featured a platform heel and made an appearance at New York Fashion Week with artist Me Love Me a Lot (MLMA). The company also released the Classic Clog, which featured a flatter red and white heel and, of course, 3D fried chicken Jibbitz.
Even outside of its recent collabs, Crocs has never been known for playing it safe. They're rubber clogs, after all.
The brand clearly has a dedicated following, though, that jump at even its most outlandish products. The Peeps Crocs, which officially dropped Tuesday, have already sold out in adult sizes online.
That dedicated fan base may be crucial since the company last week adjusted its guidance due to impacts from the new coronavirus.
As demand for hand sanitizer increases, alcohol brand puts out warning
As COVID-19, a flu-like disease caused by a member of the coronavirus family, continues to spread, consumers are beginning to stockpile goods, sometimes emptying store shelves of essentials. Retailers like Costco have seen increased purchasing across hand sanitizers, face masks and bottled water.
Third-party sellers on Amazon reportedly have tried to capitalize on increased demand and consumer anxiety around the virus by drastically marking up the price of 8-oz bottles of Purell. A product that normally retails for around $3.50, could be seen on Amazon for between $44.95 and $119.99 for a two pack, Fox Business reports.
According to market research firm Nielsen, hand sanitizer sales in the four weeks ending Feb. 22 were up some 73%. But as consumers are increasingly greeted with out-of-stock signs for the coveted product, experts are suggesting they can make their own at home — if the proper ingredients are used.
CBS MoneyWatch reported that an effective hand sanitizer must contain at least 60% alcohol, by volume, so something like rubbing alcohol or ethanol would work well. However, some consumers had another idea in mind: Tito's Vodka.
Gonna make some hand sanitizer from @TitosVodka to keep safe from the corona virus. ????????
— Kaliel ???? (@MsmFrostly) March 5, 2020
With all of the hand sanitizer being sold out, I'm gonna make my own recipe using @TitosVodka pic.twitter.com/tMm94gfzOs
— Nat Gordon (@NatGordo) March 5, 2020
The spirits maker was quick to correct those suggesting that it would in fact be effective in removing germs. Tito's issued a statement via Twitter that said the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing hands with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. "Tito's Handmade Vodka is 40% alcohol, and therefore does not meet the current recommendation of the CDC," the statement read.
We're going to give the consumers recommending this the benefit of the doubt and assume it was the "panic" that spurred this idea.
Balenciaga wastes no time in releasing absurd products
The fashion house on Thursday dropped a new product that isn't quite as it seems.
Dubbed the "Time Bracelet" the jewelry piece is fashioned to look like a watch, but noticeably, is missing a key component: the clock face.
For many, a watch may serve as a symbol of power and success. So what does it signify when someone lays down nearly $1,000 to wear a useless product on their wrist? The ultimate power move.
What the product lacks in utility, it makes up for in total and complete ridiculousness. And we mean that in the best way possible. Imagine the look on your friends' faces when they ask for the time and you can answer, without batting an eye, that it's "Fashion-o-clock." Priceless.
A shoe complete with its own warning label
Running brand Hoka on Thursday released what CNBC called the biggest shoe on the marketplace.
Weighing 12.65 ounces and measuring 4 mm from heel to toe drop, the shoe is so big it comes with a warning label to consumers. The brand warns that the shoe should not be worn when driving or using stairs, and compares the product to ski boots or cycling shoes. "Using this product for anything other than running may impair balance and dexterity," the warning read.
The shoes, which retail for $250, are intended to use for downhill runners to optimize their speed. But we'd like to think the shoe may help a more niche audience of mystical creatures, like Big Foot, qualify for the many marathon races coming up.
There truly is a product for almost everyone out there.