A Tale of Two T-Shirts - August 26, 2023
Noodles!
On Thursday mornings, Laur and I volunteer at the MCC Thrift Store on Grantham. Laur is on receiving and what a workout that is! I’m on “hanging” and it’s a lot easier. I simply bring the clothes that are sorted and priced, and hang them on racks in the store.
I particularly like hanging the men’s T-shirts because some of them have funny pics and sayings. Like the one I found a few weeks ago. It read, “Send Noods!” and had a bowl of noodles on the front. I know that our grandkid Elliot loves noodles so – even though it was many sizes too large – I bought it for him and delivered it.
The next time we had a family get together, Elliot was wearing his “Send Noods” T-shirt and I was pleased as punch, and said so. At which point Elliot and his parents burst into laughter. I didn’t get it. It was then explained to me.
Turns out the "Send Noods" sign is a clear riff on the idea of "sending nudes," or nude pictures, via the internet. What?! I blushed. What kind of grandmother … ? But daughter and son-in-law Anna and Neal understood immediately that I didn’t get it. And the three of them wondered if they should even tell me.
Obviously, they did. And Anna tells me this is one of Elliott’s favourite shirts and wears it often!
Turns out I’m not the only one who got this wrong.
In early October of 2020 - in time for National Noodle Day on the 6th - Kraft Mac and Cheese launched a #SendNoods promotion, which allowed fans to send a free box of mac and cheese (or a coupon to redeem a free box) to a loved one. The social promotion resulted in over 20,000 consumers across the country receiving boxes of America’s favorite Kraft Mac and Cheese.
Backlash was swift and strong, with Kraft getting messages like:
-This is not okay. Don’t you realize that a huge portion of the people who actually eat your mac n’ cheese are children?!”
-"Stop stop stop!!!!!!! Listen to all of these moms!! We are your customers!!!"
The uproar was significant enough that Kraft ended up removing the promotion, stating, "We sincerely appreciate and hear all of your feedback. The content will be removed from our channels."
But there were those who loved the campaign:
Columnist Aly Walansky wrote, “And here we thought Kraft's pumpkin spice mac and cheese was controversial!”
*****
Beatles
A few weeks later I was hanging men’s T-shifts at MCC Thrift and saw one that caught me eye. A picture of the Beatles – all with red circles on their noses. What? I looked at the label. STELLA MCCARTNEY! She is the daughter of Paul McCartney and her fashion line is very popular and pricey. The price on this item at the thrift store? Five dollars!
I thought to myself that my grand-nephew Manny might like this. The last time he hung out with us, he got a little rip in his favourite T-shirt, and was embarrassed. I got home and went on Stella’s website – her unisex T-shirts start at the $500 mark!
Next I looked up what this very same t-shirt would sell at on the used clothing market. From $50 to $150! I was holding the most expensive t-shirt that I had ever … well … held! I brought it to Manny and he was impressed by the original price, but was not exactly sure who the Beatles were. I understand.
But I did check out what the red circles on the Beatles’ noses were all about. Just to be safe! The Red Nose Day Appeal is the largest charity initiative in the UK. “The charity aims to bring positive and lasting change in the lives of the most vulnerable people and communities in the UK and Africa by investing in initiatives that address their immediate needs as well as tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice.”
Well, my $5 contribution to the Mennonite Central Committee is not even close to what the original buyer gave to the Red Nose Day charity appeal, but it should cover the cost of a large bag of noodles. NOODLES! Not noods!
On Thursday mornings, Laur and I volunteer at the MCC Thrift Store on Grantham. Laur is on receiving and what a workout that is! I’m on “hanging” and it’s a lot easier. I simply bring the clothes that are sorted and priced, and hang them on racks in the store.
I particularly like hanging the men’s T-shirts because some of them have funny pics and sayings. Like the one I found a few weeks ago. It read, “Send Noods!” and had a bowl of noodles on the front. I know that our grandkid Elliot loves noodles so – even though it was many sizes too large – I bought it for him and delivered it.
The next time we had a family get together, Elliot was wearing his “Send Noods” T-shirt and I was pleased as punch, and said so. At which point Elliot and his parents burst into laughter. I didn’t get it. It was then explained to me.
Turns out the "Send Noods" sign is a clear riff on the idea of "sending nudes," or nude pictures, via the internet. What?! I blushed. What kind of grandmother … ? But daughter and son-in-law Anna and Neal understood immediately that I didn’t get it. And the three of them wondered if they should even tell me.
Obviously, they did. And Anna tells me this is one of Elliott’s favourite shirts and wears it often!
Turns out I’m not the only one who got this wrong.
In early October of 2020 - in time for National Noodle Day on the 6th - Kraft Mac and Cheese launched a #SendNoods promotion, which allowed fans to send a free box of mac and cheese (or a coupon to redeem a free box) to a loved one. The social promotion resulted in over 20,000 consumers across the country receiving boxes of America’s favorite Kraft Mac and Cheese.
Backlash was swift and strong, with Kraft getting messages like:
-This is not okay. Don’t you realize that a huge portion of the people who actually eat your mac n’ cheese are children?!”
-"Stop stop stop!!!!!!! Listen to all of these moms!! We are your customers!!!"
The uproar was significant enough that Kraft ended up removing the promotion, stating, "We sincerely appreciate and hear all of your feedback. The content will be removed from our channels."
But there were those who loved the campaign:
- I’m only upset no one thought to send me a box of Mac n cheese during this campaign. #SendNoods
Columnist Aly Walansky wrote, “And here we thought Kraft's pumpkin spice mac and cheese was controversial!”
*****
Beatles
A few weeks later I was hanging men’s T-shifts at MCC Thrift and saw one that caught me eye. A picture of the Beatles – all with red circles on their noses. What? I looked at the label. STELLA MCCARTNEY! She is the daughter of Paul McCartney and her fashion line is very popular and pricey. The price on this item at the thrift store? Five dollars!
I thought to myself that my grand-nephew Manny might like this. The last time he hung out with us, he got a little rip in his favourite T-shirt, and was embarrassed. I got home and went on Stella’s website – her unisex T-shirts start at the $500 mark!
Next I looked up what this very same t-shirt would sell at on the used clothing market. From $50 to $150! I was holding the most expensive t-shirt that I had ever … well … held! I brought it to Manny and he was impressed by the original price, but was not exactly sure who the Beatles were. I understand.
But I did check out what the red circles on the Beatles’ noses were all about. Just to be safe! The Red Nose Day Appeal is the largest charity initiative in the UK. “The charity aims to bring positive and lasting change in the lives of the most vulnerable people and communities in the UK and Africa by investing in initiatives that address their immediate needs as well as tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice.”
Well, my $5 contribution to the Mennonite Central Committee is not even close to what the original buyer gave to the Red Nose Day charity appeal, but it should cover the cost of a large bag of noodles. NOODLES! Not noods!