BERLIN (Reuters) - A voodoo doll with five pins and the national emblems of all your enemy teams. Toilet paper with World Cup trivia. Pork slices emblazoned with a soccer player dribbling down the field.
These are just a few of the unofficial World Cup-related items available in German stores and on German Web sites as merchants try to cash in on World Cup mania before the month-long international soccer tournament kicks off in Germany on June 9. The competition transfixes much of the world, and interest among Americans has been growing.
"Put a charm on your favorite team with this special set. It includes one voodoo doll, 34 national emblems and five needles. Weaken any opponents: Simply attach the emblem, stick in the needles and off you go," the description says.
World Cup Marketing Mania
from Voodoo to Vibrators
Trend Themes
1. World Cup Merchandising - Opportunity to innovate and expand merchandise to enhance fan experience.
2. Unconventional Fan Experience - Opportunity to provide unique fan experiences with unconventional merchandising.
3. Event-inspired Marketing - Opportunity to leverage special events for marketing and promotions.
Industry Implications
1. Sports and Entertainment - Innovative merchandising options can enhance fan experiences in sports and entertainment industries.
2. Retail - Opportunity to capitalize on event hype by offering unconventional merchandise in retail settings.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Opportunity to create unique campaigns around event-inspired marketing to engage and attract new audiences.