If you don’t like Mondays, this one may especially be grating. It’s April Fool’s Day, when you should trust no one and question everything.
The roots of April Fools’ Day may date back before to before the 15th century. But the modern-day April Fools’ Day has become a day to prank a friend, family member, co-worker − or your customers.
Even though some companies have had April Fools’ pranks backfire, marketers continue to issue spoof products in attempts to get some laughs and attention.
Already ahead of April Fools’ Day, 7-Eleven has hinted at a possible prank product: In addition to new Lemon Lime, Green Apple and Sweet Orange flavored 7-Select sparkling waters, out now with partner Miracle Seltzer, there’s a fourth flavor coming April 1: Big Bite Hot Dog.
The hot dog-flavored water “combines the mouthwatering experience of 7-Eleven’s iconic Big Bite Hot Dog into one refreshing beverage – ketchup and mustard included,” the convenience chain says in a press release. “Say goodbye to the days of alternating bites of a hot dog with sips of a beverage, now those on the go can swap the bun for bubbles.”
Will Big Bite Hot Dog sparkling water be sold? Its availability will be announced April 1. However, some reporters were sent a can of the drink. USA TODAY can confirm that it definitely smells like hot dog water and has a smoky aftertaste.
If you are interested in trying it, both 7-Eleven and Miracle Seltzer have hinted at having some to give away on their Instagram pages. (If you get a can, share with a friend as it’s 16 ounces.)
Here’s a roundup of many of the brand-related April Fools’ gag announcements. You’ve been warned.
The product would have been “a match made in heaven … to bring the delicious, tangy flavor of Pringles’ Sour Cream & Onion flavor to life in liquid form with prebiotic benefits,” the companies said.
Stoner lingo translation app
Another dream team prank product: Rosetta Stoned, a mobile app from Rosetta Stone and medical marijuana company Fluent, that “bridges the conversational gap between novice users and seasoned stoners in any social setting.”
Da da decoder
Infant equipment site BabyQuip has its own language-bridging lark: the “Baby Translator” app, to decode your baby’s secret language.
“Say ‘goodbye’ to restless nights as you decode your baby’s coos and cries instantly, providing you with the understanding you need as a parent, all in one convenient app,” it promises.
An AI-powered plush doll
Custom stuffed animal maker Budsies already makes selfie plush dolls with a built-in voice recorder. Its April Fools’ spoof: Artificial intelligence-enabled dolls that “come programmed to learn everything about you and to become your new best friend.”
A 50-pound Bearabuddy
Sorry to the 3,500 or so who have already signed up to buy Bearaby’s Jumbo Benji plush toy, which is four times the size of its regular weighted plush toys and twice as heavy as its heaviest weighted blanket. This isn’t actually going to be sold. But it is real and will be making its home in the lobby at The Child Mind Institute in Harlem to welcome children and their families. More weighted plushies are due the day after April Fools’ Day, the company says.
A sleeping bag to go bananas over
The Dole Banana Peel Sleeping Bag, conveniently promoted as being available on April Fools’ Day only, is made from actual banana fiber and “allows parents to escape into their own cocoon of sensory deprivation.”
A full-body cleaning suit
Outrageous clothing company Tipsy Elves has a special product for April Fools’ Day: The Mopsie. You don’t need paper towels anymore, you can use your body to clean up those messes, with this “innovative, wearable microfiber towel jumpsuit” for “effortlessly soaking up spills and messes with ease.” There’s also a Baby Mopsie for “hard to reach places.”
Korean BBQ deodorant
Kevin’s Natural Foods, which has paleo- and keto-certified ready-to-cook and easy-prep entrées, is touting a new line of personal care products inspired by its food dishes including Korean BBQ Deodorant, Cilantro Lime Toothpaste, Lemongrass Basil Shampoo and Tikka Masala Sunscreen.
“These new face, body and hair care essentials will help fans prioritize self-care inside and out,” the company says.
Omaha Steaks’ meaty sprays
Omaha Steaks has its own personal care prank product: Meaty Spritz sprays with flavors such as Omaha Fog, Hog Haze, and Cock-a-Doodle-Dew.
“The world’s first protein-infused, flavor-packed, portable pump spray … (to) enjoy all the mouthwatering flavors of your Omaha Steaks gourmet favorites no matter how far away from the kitchen you are!” the company says.
Sriracha toothpaste
Asian sauce maker Lee Kum Kee, which makes Sriracha Chili Sauce and Sriracha Mayo Dressing, is introducing – not – its Siracha Mayo Toothpaste. It’s “fiery and creamy goodness … is sure to spice up your morning dental routine.”
Post-salad dental kit
Need some less powerful toothpaste? Sweetgreen offered these fanciful personal hygiene products as part of its Sweetgreen After Salad Kit, which is “designed with your pearly whites in mind … offering everything you need to freshen up post-meal.”
Choose from Miso Ginger Toothpaste, Spicy Cashew Mints, Lime Cilantro Dental Floss, and Sweetgreen Toothbrush and Floss Picks.
Fruit juice lip gloss
More personal care prank products: Welch’s Juicyfuls Juicy Fruit Lip Gloss – now available in five flavors: grape, orange, peach, strawberry and raspberry – made with real juice from Juicefuls fruit snacks so “you get that irresistible sweet flavor you love, all in a lip gloss that’s as fun as it is nourishing.”
Protein-powered seasonings
Quest Nutrition, maker of protein powder, snacks and other products, has a prank product line of seasonings including All Purpose, Lemon Pepper, and Garlic Herb, each of which deliver “21g of protein, 2g of net carbs and less than 1g of sugar.”
If you want to try Quest’s real products, you can use code NOJOKE for free shipping on online orders over $49 April 1-3.
Superpowered Superfeet?
These would certainly come in hand on a run, but – sorry – it’s a jogging joke. Superfeet SuperBoost Power E-Soles gives you 8 hours of continuous battery-powered boost, for almost Iron Man-like propulsion. “All the comfort and support of Superfeet, now with electrifying performance,” the company says in a video about the prank product. “It’s like having a powerful electric motor in your shoes.”
Scotch tape-branded Scotch?
This shenanigan seems like a blend that could stick: Scotch Whisky by Scotch Brand. The whisky “features a nose of cherry wood and a delightfully smooth finish that hits like a well-wrapped gift.”
Who you gonna call when ghosted? This new title at Tinder
Dating app Tinder announced a new April Fools’ Day hiring quest for a Vice President of Ghost Hunting to help combat “one of dating culture’s most prevalent vices – ghosting,” a practice inflicted on 78% of singles already in 2024 (an untrue fact from Tinder).
Patrón’s bringing back a beloved liqueur. No kidding.
Patrón patrons get some good news today. The premium tequila maker chose April Fools’ Day to announce the return of its Patrón XO Cafe tequila-based coffee liqueur, which was discontinued in 2021. Since production ceased, devotees took to social media and signed a petition asking parent company Bacardi to bring it back.
Made with Patrón Silver tequila and Arabica bean coffee – the dry liqueur can be sipped straight, in cocktails and as dessert topping – Patrón XO Cafe will begin arriving in stores again later this month.
Say it with dead flowers
Don’t forget to put roses on your April Fools’ Day list. UrbanStems has this “special” delivery, The Dead Inside Collection, “an assortment of dead flower bouquets, dead plants, half empty vases, and more for the pessimist in your life.” But, for real, check UrbanStems’ social media accounts including Instagram for how to get 20% off an order of real flowers.
Cheesecake Factory’s real deals
The Cheesecake Factory also has a deal that’s no joke: Sign up for the chain’s Cheesecake Rewards loyalty program on April 1 to get an Any Slice, Half Price reward, redeemable for 50% off any slice of cheesecake or layer cake, with any food or beverage purchase (no gift cards).
Those who were members before April 1 will find something special in their account on Monday, too: either a free slice of cheesecake each month for a year, a free whole cheesecake, a free slice of cheesecake, $5 off $25 purchases, or $10 off $40 purchases. (All rewards redeemable by April 16; can be redeemed for dine-in, to-go and DoorDash.)
TORONTO – Roots Corp. may have built its brand on all things comfy and cosy, but its CEO says activewear is now “really becoming a core part” of the brand.
The category, which at Roots spans leggings, tracksuits, sports bras and bike shorts, has seen such sustained double-digit growth that Meghan Roach plans to make it a key part of the business’ future.
“It’s an area … you will see us continue to expand upon,” she told analysts on a Friday call.
The Toronto-based retailer’s push into activewear has taken shape over many years and included several turns as the official designer and supplier of Team Canada’s Olympic uniform.
But consumers have had plenty of choice when it comes to workout gear and other apparel suited to their sporting needs. On top of the slew of athletic brands like Nike and Adidas, shoppers have also gravitated toward Lululemon Athletica Inc., Alo and Vuori, ramping up competition in the activewear category.
Roach feels Roots’ toehold in the category stems from the fit, feel and following its merchandise has cultivated.
“Our product really resonates with (shoppers) because you can wear it through multiple different use cases and occasions,” she said.
“We’ve been seeing customers come back again and again for some of these core products in our activewear collection.”
Her remarks came the same day as Roots revealed it lost $5.2 million in its latest quarter compared with a loss of $5.3 million in the same quarter last year.
The company said the second-quarter loss amounted to 13 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Aug. 3, the same as a year earlier.
In presenting the results, Roach reminded analysts that the first half of the year is usually “seasonally small,” representing just 30 per cent of the company’s annual sales.
Sales for the second quarter totalled $47.7 million, down from $49.4 million in the same quarter last year.
The move lower came as direct-to-consumer sales amounted to $36.4 million, down from $37.1 million a year earlier, as comparable sales edged down 0.2 per cent.
The numbers reflect the fact that Roots continued to grapple with inventory challenges in the company’s Cooper fleece line that first cropped up in its previous quarter.
Roots recently began to use artificial intelligence to assist with daily inventory replenishments and said more tools helping with allocation will go live in the next quarter.
Beyond that time period, the company intends to keep exploring AI and renovate more of its stores.
It will also re-evaluate its design ranks.
Roots announced Friday that chief product officer Karuna Scheinfeld has stepped down.
Rather than fill the role, the company plans to hire senior level design talent with international experience in the outdoor and activewear sectors who will take on tasks previously done by the chief product officer.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, are set to resume today as a strike that has stopped most services drags into a second week.
No timeline has been set for the length of the negotiations, but Joe McCann, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they are willing to stay there as long as it takes, even if talks drag on all night.
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people unable to navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last Tuesday, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
Hundreds of drivers rallied outside TransLink’s head office earlier this week, calling for the transportation provider to intervene in the dispute with Transdev, which was contracted to oversee HandyDART service.
Transdev said earlier this week that it will provide a reply to the union’s latest proposal on Thursday.
A statement from the company said it “strongly believes” that their employees deserve fair wages, and that a fair contract “must balance the needs of their employees, clients and taxpayers.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
MONTREAL – Travel company Transat AT Inc. reported a loss in its latest quarter compared with a profit a year earlier as its revenue edged lower.
The parent company of Air Transat says it lost $39.9 million or $1.03 per diluted share in its quarter ended July 31.
The result compared with a profit of $57.3 million or $1.49 per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue in what was the company’s third quarter totalled $736.2 million, down from $746.3 million in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Transat says it lost $1.10 per share in its latest quarter compared with an adjusted profit of $1.10 per share a year earlier.
Transat chief executive Annick Guérard says demand for leisure travel remains healthy, as evidenced by higher traffic, but consumers are increasingly price conscious given the current economic uncertainty.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
