As editor of I was surprised to see The New York Times report today about "hooping": excercising with a Hula-Hoop. Then I saw the photo of Marisa Tomei.
Tomei is featured prominently in the story, "Hooping Already Has Its Own Jane Fonda," which is about the "growing trend" of using Hula-Hoops as exercise equipment. (There's a Web site, and fitness videos, so it must be a trend. I wonder if there will be a Hooping magazine?)
There's also a photo of an instructor teaching a morning hooping class on the beach in Santa Monica, Calif.
I don't know anyone who hoops, but I imagine it is great exercise. If I had a Hula-Hoop in my office, I'm sure I'd find an excuse to use it a couple of times a day. It could also come in handy for playing ring toss.
Anyway, I'm sure the celebrity endorsement is invaluable, and hooping clubs will soon be popping up all over the place.
There's a lesson here for all the folks who read the Plastics Blog. If you want to get some attention for your proprietary products, just find a photogenic Academy Award winner to endorse them, put together a Web site, and give The New York Times a call... see, marketing is simple!
Comments (5)
Looked like it worked for her in The Wrestler
Posted by Matthew K | March 11, 2010 4:42 PM
Posted on March 11, 2010 16:42
Hooping is more than a trend! Check out http://hooping.org/
Posted by Rip | March 12, 2010 12:09 PM
Posted on March 12, 2010 12:09
As a former PN staffer, I'm not sure leaving Hula Hoops around the office would be the best idea, especially if the candy jar is full or if the resident Resin guru has brought in donuts. Maybe a brisk walk to Freshway would be more appropriate!
Posted by Kathie | March 15, 2010 7:49 AM
Posted on March 15, 2010 07:49
Michelle Obama's recent hula-hooping for health also garnered a lot of publicity. Did you hear that Wham-O is now making their hula hoops and frisbees from post-consumer recycled plastic (and sawdust)?
Read about it here:
http://www.inthehopper.org/sustainability/frisbees-recycled-content/
Posted by Barry | March 15, 2010 11:54 AM
Posted on March 15, 2010 11:54
Thanks Barry. Wham-O has been in the news a lot recently, starting with its Jan. 6 announcement that it was moving some Frisbee production to the U.S. from China.
The Jan. 18, Page 1 story in Plastics News noted at the time that Wham-O also planned to start making Hula Hoops in the United States this month (March).
Then, in February, the company bought a Colorado company that makes wood-plastic composite toys (see PN's Feb. 15, Page 1 story).
Using recycled content and manufacturing in North America seem like real attention-getting moves for Wham-O.
Posted by Don Loepp
| March 15, 2010 12:01 PM
Posted on March 15, 2010 12:01