With over 1 billion smokers worldwide, cigarettes might very well be the most consumed product in the world as we know it. Over 15 billion cigarettes are churned out per day in the US alone, so imagine the number worldwide.

Automatic lighters have been in use since 1926.The first automatic lighter was designed by The Art Metal Works and was called the Banjo. The concept was an instant hit and other companies started their own versions with improvements and modifications. Today lighters are designed artistically, with different tastes in mind. The shapes, sizes, colors and concepts that lighters come in are simply amazing.

I have gathered a few of what I thought to be ‘weird’ designs for lighters.

1. Grenade, Gun

First on our list are a Hand Grenade and a Gun. These were definitely created with commandos and cops in mind. Very innovative ideas and both can be associated with fire.

2. Ball, Dice, Poker chip, Cards

These were created to cater to sport enthusiasts and club goers. If you run a search you will come across many variations of the ball, from a tennis ball to a snooker ball; you name it and they’ve got it. The Dice and Poke Chip would perfectly blend into a casino and would be a very novel accessory to any casinogoer.

3. Guitar, Juke box

If they got something for the sport enthusiast then they obviously got to have something for the music lover too. A Guitar and a Jukebox; both these representations of the universal language of music would tempt even a non smoker to buy one just for the heck of it.

4. Hammer, Light Bulb, Cooker, Toilet bowl

If you can sell a lighter shaped like a music instrument; then you can definitely sell one shaped like a household article. The Pressure Cooker is my personal favorite in this category; the designer was probably paying some sort of a tribute to Denis Papin. But even to a radical mind, sporting a toilet bowl lighter – just might make him think twice.

5. Foot, Flip Flop

I can’t imagine who the manufacturers of Flip Flop lighters are trying to target. My only guess is people with a ‘foot fetish’. But the Foot lighter that doubles as a bottle opener seems pretty novel and handy though.

6. Snake, Frog

For the animal lovers (because we are sure they were not targeting the animals); we bring you a selection from the animal kingdom; Snakes, Frogs, Pigs and much more. Run a search and we’re sure you’ll find your favorite pet.

7. Cup cake, Candy, Crab Claw, Ice cream cone, Egg

Just when we thought we had seen it all, we found a whole new range of designs based on food. Weird or what? The Candy and Ice Cream look like little toys and so we can only hope that the target here is not children.

8. Beer Bottle, Coffee Mug, Juice carton

What else could follow food but drink! A lighter shaped like a Coffee Mug is somehow more funny than weird, but we’ll let you be the judge of that.

9. Fire truck, Fire extinguisher

Don’t miss the irony in these. A Fire Extinguisher and a Fire Truck used to light a fire. Doesn’t it make you wonder, ‘now why didn’t I think if that?’…

10. Wrist watch, USB

If you thought the lighter that doubled as a bottle opener was innovative, then what do you have to say to a fully functional Wrist Watch cum lighter and USB drive cum lighter? Now that’s weird yet innovative thinking.

11. Matchstick

And finally a lighter shaped like the very thing it was created to replace; a Matchstick. This has to be the weirdest of the lot.

The key to the success of an advertisement lies in its ability to convince. And those of you who have a loved one who smokes will know how difficult it is to convince them against it. Generally, an advertisement convinces through attraction, but in the case of an anti smoking ad however, the goal of convincing can be achieved only through repulsion.

We have compiled a list of ads that we think are quiet convincing, and categorized them under different approaches. Take a look at them and if you think that they are convincing enough, you could probably show them to those whom you want to quit smoking.

1. ‘Health hazard’ approach:

The most common approach to anti smoking ads is by highlighting its ill effects on ones health. There is considerable debate about the effectiveness of this approach as not all people who take up smoking are ignorant of its hazards. Eighty percent of smokers are fully aware of its hazards and yet they continue to smoke.

2. Satirical approach:

Some ads use satire as a tool to provoke thought. These could be sarcastic, witty and in some cases even funny. Their effectiveness again varies because different people react differently to ridicule, and many of these ads aim at ridiculing smokers and the act of smoking.

3. Passive smoking approach:

A direct target to the conscience of smokers; these ads are aimed at those who say ‘my health is not your problem’. Passive smoking is as harmful as smoking, and this is the message that ads of this approach convey.

4. ‘Harmful to children’ approach:

The most convincing approach is through children. These ads are targeted at the conscience of parents who smoke, and for good reason. Children who are exposed to smoking at home are more likely to pick up the habit earlier than those who are not subjected to parents smoking at home.

]]> http://www.electroniccigarettestarterkit.org/most-convincing-anti-smoking-approaches/feed/ 0 http://www.electroniccigarettestarterkit.org/cigarettes-%e2%80%93-from-basic-to-luxury/ http://www.electroniccigarettestarterkit.org/cigarettes-%e2%80%93-from-basic-to-luxury/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 07:43:03 +0000 Electronic Starter Kit http://www.electroniccigarettestarterkit.org/?p=165

Cigarettes have been around since as early as the 1500’s and despite their ill effects on the health of both the smoker and those subjected to smoke; the tobacco industry has remained unshaken, and in fact expanded over the years. There are numerous brands of cigarettes in the world, and each brand is priced differently. Price is decided based on the quality of the tobacco, the strength of nicotine and unique features such as flavors etc.

The prices of cigarettes have been on the rise and you will be surprised that the rise in price has not affected the market. In fact there is considerable growth in the sale of luxury cigarettes, as people have started looking for identity and individuality in their brand. Some of the popular brands in sale today are Camel, Parliament, American Spirit, Djarum, Marlboro, Cartier, Dunhill, Sobarine, Newport and Lucky Strike. Luxury brands like Treasurer have price tags that go upto US$20 a pack when compared to their cheaper counterparts that retail at an average of under US$10 a pack.

The word luxury does not just reflect on the quality of the cigarette, but the packaging as well. Treasurers come in an aluminum hinged box that makes an attractive case, the paper of the cigarette is watermarked with the logo and the filter tip is made of foil to reduce lip sticking. Most luxury brands are hand packed to guarantee fine quality. The dreams brand takes packaging to the next level with their holographic labeling.

One of the most expensive packs of cigarettes ever made was in 2006, by Lucky Strike. The pack was made of 18ct white gold with a diamond and ruby. The pack was priced at $100,000 and sold at major international airports.

Expensive or not, cigarettes continue to be one of the most selling products in the world, giving their consumers a world of choice from basic to luxury.

People say that quitting is easy. But does this apply to smoking as well? If you took a survey you would find that out of every 10 people who have quit smoking, only 3 would say that they found it easy to quit. When a person decides to quit, there are a few factors that influence the ease or difficulty with which the person is able to do so. Top among them would be the number of years that the person has been smoking, the number of cigarettes the person smokes per day, smoking habits such as a cigarette after every meal etc.

Nicotine is what makes it difficult for smokers to quit and stay quit. Nicotine enters your blood stream with ease and affects many parts of the body, not just the lungs. Did you know that nicotine from a cigarette reaches your brain faster than an intravenous drug?

Quitting requires a great deal of mental preparation, and the person should be prepared to battle the withdrawal symptoms as well. The support from people around them will give them additional motivation to fight withdrawal symptoms. These steps will help ease the process of quitting.

1. Nicotine remains in the body for at least 3 to 4 days after one stops smoking. Drinking a lot of water and fluids in this time will help flush out your system quicker.
2. Try to avoid alcohol, coffee and sugar for the first few weeks as these tend to stimulate the desire to smoke. Keep away from junk food too, as your metabolism will be reduced and you stand to gain weight even by eating the same amount as before.
3. Oral substitutes such as cinnamon sticks and chewing gum can act as an initial distraction and after the first few weeks of quitting you will find that you do not require these.
4. Practice yoga and breathing techniques. They help relax your body and relieve tension that could build up due to increased stress. There are chances of building up stress initially and deep breathing is an effective stress combatant.
5. If you are not able to stop all at once, go in for NRT Nicotine Replacement Therapy. It is a therapy that helps people quit smoking slowly. You will have be taking nicotine substitutes such as a nicotine patch, nicotine gum etc, that will provide you steady doses of nicotine so that your body does not crave it suddenly, and over time the doses are reduced till you are completely nicotine free.
6. If you are not sure of quitting completely overnight, then you could consider quitting gradually. Reduce the number of cigarettes per day slowly, by increasing the gaps between each and eventually aim at bringing it down to zero.
7. You can try prescription quit smoking drugs. Seek the help of a doctor to find the drug that will best aid your effort and let them prescribe it for you. Some of these drugs are a form of aversion therapy as they work by making the act of smoking more repulsive to your body.
8. Sometimes the only thing standing between you and quitting may be ‘motivation’. If that is so, you should try counseling as it will give you the support and drive you require to remain mentally steadfast while quitting.
9. You can try to gradually quit through electronic cigarettes. They come in varied doses that are all mild when compared to the real thing, so you can slowly reduce your doses till you reach zero.
10. If you are still finding it hard stay quit then you can consider therapies such as hypnotherapy, meditation, acupressure and acupuncture. They have all helped a lot of people in the process of quitting.