Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

Lava stuck on WD-40 cans

The WD-40 Company, San Diego, CA, has combined two of its brands in a major promotion. A total of two million flexible sample packs of its Lava cleaner were attached to 8- and 11-oz cans of WD-40 shipped from mid-October through mid-December of last year.

Pw 17742 02lava

Half the cans had packs of Lava liquid hand soap, half had packs containing a premoistened Lava hand towelette. The liquid packs, supplied by copacker Marietta Corp. (Cortland, NY), measure 4" x 2.5"; towel packs are 5 1/2" x 2.5". WD-40 Co. declines to disclose the towel pack supplier.

Both types of the predominately red packs are a foil lamination and printed in at least five colors. The towel pack is notched for ease of opening, the liquid soap pack is perforated for ease of opening.

From January through June, approximately two million more Lava samples will be attached to cans destined for specific retailers that include Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Pep Boys, Menards, True-Value Hardware, Tractor Supply, and CSK Auto.

Lava director of marketing Rob Fleisher tells Packworld.com that the program’s late ‘00 success encouraged them to continue it well into the new year: "It was successful because we were able to deliver samples in a cost-effective way directly into the hands of end-users. We have now increased distribution of Lava. This new version will be on account-specific programs in which we hope to receive a greater return on our investment."

Concurrently, the company will ship another million promotional cans in April through May as part of the mass sampling program.

Lava-adjusted graphics

According to Fleisher, the promo effort involved changing the graphics placement on the cans so as to not obscure printed danger warnings or bar codes.

"Then we provided very specific instructions for the placement of the sample packs," he notes.

That’s done by the company’s five contract packaging locations throughout the United States. At the CP location, a spot of glue is manually applied to the Lava sample, which in turn is attached manually to the side of the cans. A pressure-sensitive label is then added to cased product indicating "Free Lava Heavy Duty Hand Cleaner On-Pack Samples Inside."

The company has attached items to cans of WD-40 before (see Sept. ’00 p.2), "but those [promotions] are usually as a can twin-pack with a film band," Fleisher says.

Videos from Universal Labeling Systems, Inc.
Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in packaging & processing!
At PACK EXPO Las Vegas, you’ll see machinery in action and new tech from 2,300 suppliers, collaborate with experts and explore transformative solutions. Join us this September to experience a breakthrough in packaging and processing.
REGISTER NOW AND SAVE
Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in packaging & processing!
2024 PACK EXPO Innovations Reports
Exclusive access: Packaging World editor-curated reports revealing PACK EXPO's most groundbreaking technologies across food, healthcare, and machinery sectors. Each report features truly innovative solutions selected from hundreds of exhibitors by our expert team. Transform your operations with just one click.
Access Now
2024 PACK EXPO Innovations Reports