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  • 2018-01-11 (xsd:date)
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  • Is 'Trumpy Bear' a Real Product? (en)
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  • A bombastic, over-the-top commercial has left some TV viewers and internet users baffled by the authenticity of Trumpy Bear, a 22-inch stuffed animal with a striking resemblance to the 45th President of the United States. The fearless, super-plush American grizzly, is how a booming male voiceover describes Trumpy Bear in a two-minute commercial first posted to YouTube in July 2017. Even the toughest guys will love Trumpy Bear, the voice continues, as a woman is shown carefully tending to Trumpy's blond combover and red tie, which accompanies cuffs, collars and cuff-links to make up his immaculate corporate outfit. We have received several enquiries from readers about whether Trumpy Bear is a real product or — as one reader described it — just great satire. Trumpy Bear is real. The commercial is real, not a spoof (although some moments appear to have been written with tongue firmly in cheek). And the bear itself is a real product available for purchase. Exceptional Products, the Texas company that markets Trumpy Bear on television, also uses infomercials and television advertising to promote products like Hairdini, Save a Blade and Plaque Attack. In October 2017, the commercial began running on 10 TV networks, including Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel, according to the advertising and media news web site Ad Age. The product consists of the 22-inch tall stuffed animal and a 28-by-30-inch American flag blanket that can be stored in a zipped pouch inside Trumpy Bear himself, according to the product web site. Trumpy Bear costs $39.90, which can be paid in two installments of $19.95. We asked Exceptional Products about sales of Trumpy Bear, but the company declined to provide any details. Nonetheless, we know people have been buying the toy, in particular as a Christmas present according to several social media posts. Exceptional Products owns the trademark on Trumpy Bear, according to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records, but the concept and design was invented by a V.L. Lange from a company called Reel Vision, a spokesperson for Exceptional Products told us. We were unable to find further details on Lange or their company, and they did not respond to an invitation to comment. However, Exceptional Products did send us the vision statement for Trumpy Bear, in which Lange emphasizes No, this is not a joke. While the TV commercial features a disclaimer emphasizing that President Donald Trump has not endorsed Trumpy Bear, it brings to mind another marketing effort that has emerged during the Trump era. In May 2017, the President himself began marketing the Big League Box to supporters — a monthly delivery of exclusive and vintage OFFICIAL Donald J. Trump merchandise for a subscription of $49 or more each month. (en)
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