Trojan (condoms)

Trojan
Owner Church and Dwight
Country 1920 – United States
Markets World
Previous owners 1920 – Young's Drug Products
1985 – Carter-Wallace
2001 – Church and Dwight
Website http://www.trojancondoms.com/

Trojan is a brand name of condoms manufactured by the Church & Dwight Company. 70.5 percent of condoms purchased in United States drugstores are Trojan brand.[1] Trojan began selling condoms in 1927 through an ad placed in a trade magazine for pharmacists.[2]

Contents

History

Trojan condoms were first manufactured in 1920 by Merle Leland Youngs of Young's Rubber.[1] It wasn't until 1930 that latex-based materials were used. They claim to be America's #1 condom and trusted for over 90 years.[3] They meet U.S. standards by the electronic measurement of durability and reliability.

Trojan produces 30 different varieties of condoms.[4] Among the types are Magnum condoms, produced as a larger condom to provide extra comfort,[5] and the Elexa line, which is marketed to a female audience.[6]

Ad campaigns

In 2003, in order to launch Trojan in the United Kingdom, a humorous fake official web site for the so-called Trojan Games was created. The Trojan Games were supposedly an international sporting event similar to the National Debate Tournament and taking place in Austin, TX. The sports were based on sexual performance. As of November 2006 the various "Trojan Games" videos had been viewed 300 million times.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Brendan I. Koerner (September 29, 2006). "The Other Trojan War – What's the best-selling condom in America?". Slate magazine. http://www.slate.com/id/2150552/. Retrieved 2007-07-21. "Trojan condoms were the brainchild of a canny Presbyterian from upstate New York named Merle Leland Youngs. When Youngs moved to New York City in the second decade of the 20th century, the condom trade was decidedly seedy, with fly-by-night manufacturers peddling dodgy wares. The Comstock Law of 1873 forbade the sale of birth control, so condoms were instead sold as protection against disease. Still, many pharmacists were loath to stock a product associated with sexual vice, and consumers often had to buy their condoms in the backrooms of bars. ..." 
  2. ^ Andew Newman (2007-06-18). "Pigs With Cellphones, but No Condoms". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/18/business/media/18adcol.html. Retrieved 2009-04-28. "The 87-year-old company placed its first ad in trade magazines for pharmacists in 1927, when druggists still kept condoms behind the counter. Though out in the aisles for decades, condoms are still purchased furtively: while the average time shopping for a home-pregnancy test is 2.5 minutes, the average condom buyer takes just 7 seconds, according to research by Trojan. “We call it a drive-by purchase,” Mr. Daniels said. 'People to this day are embarrassed.'" 
  3. ^ Church & Dwight: "Trojan Condoms", Virginia, 2005
  4. ^ "About Trojan Condoms". Church & Dwight Co., Inc.. http://www.trojancondoms.com/Resources/AboutUs.aspx. Retrieved 2009-04-28. 
  5. ^ "MAGNUM Lubricated Condoms". Church & Dwight Co., Inc.. http://www.trojancondoms.com/Product/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=32. Retrieved 2009-04-28. 
  6. ^ Diva, Tango. "Safe Sex: A Trojan Test Drive with Feminine Elexa Line". http://www.tangodiva.com/index.php?page=network&story_rev_id=376. Retrieved 2009-04-28. 
  7. ^ Lucas, Dean (2007-03-04). "Famous Pictures Magazine – Trojan Games". Famous Pictures Magazine. http://www.famouspictures.org/mag/index.php?title=Trojan_Games. Retrieved 2007-07-21. 

External links

Brand names
Ansell · Condomi · Durex · Hot Rod · LifeStyles · NYC · Trojan
Uses
Social issues
History
Related topics