What does Angelina Jolie have in common with Josef Stalin and Thomas Edison – as well as two out of every five Americans between the ages of 26 and 40?
They all have tattoos. Once seen as a silent cry of rebellion, tattoos now possess a status so firmly mainstream that advertisers are using them to market everything from tyres and shoes to energy drinks.
The 7-Eleven convenience store chain recently started selling an energy drink called Inked, aimed at people who either have tattoos or those who want to think of themselves as the tattoo type. The company plans to market the drink at motorcycle rallies and tattoo conventions.
As the attention of young consumers gets spread between TV, blogs, online video and other distractions, marketers have resorted to alternative methods to attract their interest.
On a never-ending quest to appeal to the young and young-minded, many companies are now using tattoos in advertising and promotions.
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