Keep Those Bugs Away ….Give Them A Bubble Bath
Few are the sportsmen that have not had a bottle of Avon’s Skin-So-Soft bath oil in the tackle box to keep those pesky bugs and mosquitoes away. It’s a familiar sight in most all of the south Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi bait shops, and the distinctive yet pleasant smell of the product is quite common to both saltwater and fishermen alike. I first used the product in Louisiana about ten years ago…. and it worked great in keeping those pesky critters away. Well recently Avon Products got “bugged” about what it calls false and misleading advertisements by S.C. Johnson & Son in describing the Avon bath oil as an insect repellent. A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan claims Johnson got under Avon’s skin with an advertising campaign meant to boost sales of it’s Off bug repellent. The lawsuit says that Johnson advertises that Off is more effective than Avon’s Skin-So-Soft bath oil, a product that Avon says is not meant to be used as an insect repellent. The lawsuit further states that Johnson’s television commercial claims that a study found that four of the five Avon product users prefer S.C. Johnson’s repellent, but the lawsuit adds, the advertisement qualifies the findings as saying the preference is only for skin feel. Avon has plans to market a new bug weapon, Skin-So-Soft Insect Repellent Lotion in June, and the new product will keep away mosquitoes, fleas, and deer ticks, provide waterproof sun protection, and moisturize the skin. Avon called the Johnson companies ads “illegal efforts to confuse consumers, tarnish Avon’s reputation, and gain sales at Avon’s expense.” The suit seeks to make Johnson stop the advertisements, issue corrective advertising, and provide monetary damages. Avon, which has annual sales totaling $4 billion, is based in New York. Johnson’s household products include Pledge, Raid, Windex, Glade, Drano, and Vanish. A Johnson spokesman stated that the company denies the allegations contained in the lawsuit, and believes that the case is entirely without merit. (I still plan to keep my bottle of Skin-So-Soft in the boat, because even though it may be one of the finest bath oils around… it sure does work great for “other purposes”). JB
