06/03/2009

Obama Product Watch

Stuffed 'Bo' Toy Soon to Hit German Shelves

The Obama marketing mania continues in Germany. Cute and cuddly stuffed animals designed to look like his new pet will soon be on the shelves. And an Obama musical will hit the stage this fall.

While international Obama mania has perhaps died down somewhat -- as the once-soaring expectations for the new US President bow to realism -- the manic drive to sell Obama-related merchandise has not quit. If anything, the extra pressure of a struggling economy seems to encourage companies worldwide to get creative when pegging their products to the popular politician.

German companies have been particularly noteworthy in their attempt to cash in on Barack Obama's positive image among their countrymen -- leading to, among other products, dubious-sounding "Obama Fingers" fried chicken.

The list of German Obama-related products now includes an actual theater production -- a musical entitled 'Hope - Yes We Can' is set to open in Frankfurt this fall, German MOVE production company announced on Wednesday.

But the marketing madness doesn't end with Obama. Merchandise has been associated with the entire First Family -- including its newest member, Bo, a Portuguese water dog. On Wednesday, a toymaker located in Bad Kösen in central Germany announced plans to release a plush doppelganger of the pup. The stuffed animal is almost identical in size and has been dubbed "Bo from Kösen."

"A model is currently being designed and the trade mark rights are secured," Kösen company spokesman Helmut Schache said on Wednesday. "We will be putting 500 copies on the market in the coming days."

Originally, the company had personally wanted to present the president with the toy version of his beloved pooch -- but there wasn't enough time during Obama's brief trip to Germany this week.

jcm -- with wire reports

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