Locals Trash Camel's 'Burg Butts

The tobacco industry has had many targets over the year, and their latest: The Hipster. Sorry, young creatives. Whether you live in Williamsburg, or aspire to, their latest campaign is aimed to get you smoking their cigs. Wait, what, why? Well, company spokesman David Howard says, "We believe that [Williamsburg] represents a lot of the belief of the Camel brand. It helps illustrate the break-free attitude that Camel is about, breaking free to be your own person." He's right. When we suck down a pack of Camel-branded cigarettes all we can think about is how it's like we're on our own personal L train to an early grave. Breakin' free, y'all!

Today the Daily News has some reactions from locals and city officials. Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley told them, "It's cynical for a tobacco company to launch a branding scheme that tries to exploit the life and energy of our streets to market an addictive product that kills roughly a third of its users." Yesterday, Marty Markowitz clarified to the tobacco pushers: "Williamsburg and Brooklyn are smokin’, we mean smokin’ hot—not smokin’ cigarettes!”

For good measure, let's cue up the ironic hipster, who told the paper: "I'd probably buy them once to show people how stupid it is." For more cringe-worthy reactions, head to The Post, where one young man says: "This is so cool. Williamsburg's own cigarette! Smoke them if you got them."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on November 12, 2010 11:26 AM

Comments [rss]

Jason

Camel Hopes to Spread the Hipster Cancer with Williamsburg-brand Cigarettes.

'Irony is Bliss- Have a Camel today.'

http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2010/11/camel-hopes-to-spread-the-hipster-cancer-with-williamsburg-brand-cigarettes/

fuboy

"Trent Markham, Lung Doctor" is brought to you by.. Lung King, disposable cigarette holders. Because germ-free smoking is worry-free smoking.

Wza

They should market skinny cigs.

hotstepper

ha, good idea. my old boss used to smoke Misty Slim 120s, the longest cigarette out there (seriously like 6 inches). she would take a few drags, walk away to take care of something for like 15 minutes, and those suckers would still be burning when she came back!

matty

In Wicker Park in Chicago RJ Reynolds opened a "Tabocco Lounge" called Marshall McGeartys. They sold "high-end" camel products and had expensive liquors and coffees. It closed last year. Wasn't sure what their cachet was other than to legitimize smoking. It did cater to yuppies, but most yuppies don't smoke. I don't remember if you could smoke in there or not.

All this goes to show just how much these guys spend on marketing - if you want to be rich, work for whoever handles their advertising and branding.

Dirk

Wow, talk about Camel being behind on the trends. Wicker Park stopped being cool a decade ago.

Benny

You posted this yesterday? Or at least didn't even link back to your own post from yesterday? Confusing. http://gothamist.com/2010/11/11/williamsburg.php

robingee

Still trying to market cigs as "cool" in this day and age? They are so stuck in the 1950's. (When it WAS cool, daddy-o)

Cannibal

not only is smoking cool, its great for healthy vitality!

And babies love them too!

slyguy

How to remain viable as a business and come up with new consumers for your product?

Excuse me while I vomit. I wonder if the billieburg tatoo shop that also shamelessly turns out advertising media in the back did this abomination locally.

thisisnotacure

If by 'billieburg tattoo shop' you are referring to Scott Campbell at Saved Tattoo, no, this is probably not his work. It looks like it was done in-house or by a freelance illustrator whose name they aren't attaching to the project.

In all honesty, this is likely more about keeping brand loyalty and recruiting other smokers to try a different brand. Camel doesn't have to recruit people to smoke cigarettes. Society does that for them.