Lilith
01-25-2007, 06:21 PM
(gg)
By James Pomfret
HONG KONG, Jan 19 (Reuters Life!) - Forget chocolates
or roses this Valentine's Day -- a gift of musical
condoms is bound to be more entertaining.
Hong Kong's Ondo Creation, which makes designer
condoms, hopes its Idom sheathes will put a more
romantic spin on safe sex -- and reduce the risk of a
slap on the face that a pack of six might elicit among
some conservative Asians.
The Idom itself doesn't sing -- but the mint,
strawberry, chocolate and banana flavored condoms come
in an attractive package with a music CD to get you in
the mood for love.
"We create an environment for lovers who would like to
try a different experience," said Victor Tsang who
runs Ondo Creation.
"We try to create products that are not embarrassing,
but very trendy and hip. It's a lifestyle product," he
added.
Cynics may scoff at the marketing gloss, but the 18
month start-up's products sell across the world. The
firm also won a bronze medal in the Industrial Design
Excellence Awards run in conjunction with BusinessWeek
magazine, which said Ondo had managed to "revitalize
the image of condoms."
Tsang, a former IT executive, says his product was
inspired by a desire to promote safe sex and to
provide a fun, relaxed alternative for what he calls
"more conservative" customers.
The brand eschews regular prophylactic distributors,
instead peddling its wares in bookstores, record shops
and trendy nightspots in a long list of cities that
includes Hong Kong, London, Paris, Stockholm,
Amsterdam, Tokyo and Singapore.
"We're targeting more lifestyle stores, rather than
7-11's and pharmacies," said Tsang.
"There's a market gap in the condom industry that we
may be able to make fun -- and also penetrate," said
Tsang who expected a 30 percent surge in sales ahead
of Valentine's Day.
The Idom's Exotica, Chocotasy and Loveberry brands
come with CD compilations of chillout, acid jazz and
dance music.
"The music starts slow, then medium, then becomes fast
before getting slow again," said Jack Wong, who helped
with the music.
He shrugs off the fact that the CDs run for exactly 18
minutes: "Whether this is long enough or not, really
depends on the individual."
By James Pomfret
HONG KONG, Jan 19 (Reuters Life!) - Forget chocolates
or roses this Valentine's Day -- a gift of musical
condoms is bound to be more entertaining.
Hong Kong's Ondo Creation, which makes designer
condoms, hopes its Idom sheathes will put a more
romantic spin on safe sex -- and reduce the risk of a
slap on the face that a pack of six might elicit among
some conservative Asians.
The Idom itself doesn't sing -- but the mint,
strawberry, chocolate and banana flavored condoms come
in an attractive package with a music CD to get you in
the mood for love.
"We create an environment for lovers who would like to
try a different experience," said Victor Tsang who
runs Ondo Creation.
"We try to create products that are not embarrassing,
but very trendy and hip. It's a lifestyle product," he
added.
Cynics may scoff at the marketing gloss, but the 18
month start-up's products sell across the world. The
firm also won a bronze medal in the Industrial Design
Excellence Awards run in conjunction with BusinessWeek
magazine, which said Ondo had managed to "revitalize
the image of condoms."
Tsang, a former IT executive, says his product was
inspired by a desire to promote safe sex and to
provide a fun, relaxed alternative for what he calls
"more conservative" customers.
The brand eschews regular prophylactic distributors,
instead peddling its wares in bookstores, record shops
and trendy nightspots in a long list of cities that
includes Hong Kong, London, Paris, Stockholm,
Amsterdam, Tokyo and Singapore.
"We're targeting more lifestyle stores, rather than
7-11's and pharmacies," said Tsang.
"There's a market gap in the condom industry that we
may be able to make fun -- and also penetrate," said
Tsang who expected a 30 percent surge in sales ahead
of Valentine's Day.
The Idom's Exotica, Chocotasy and Loveberry brands
come with CD compilations of chillout, acid jazz and
dance music.
"The music starts slow, then medium, then becomes fast
before getting slow again," said Jack Wong, who helped
with the music.
He shrugs off the fact that the CDs run for exactly 18
minutes: "Whether this is long enough or not, really
depends on the individual."