Teva, the company that produces sport sandals and footwear is designing a new line of shoes made especially for an elephant named Tina who lives at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Tina, who is 9 foot tall and 9100 pounds, is a 34 year-old Asian elephant suffering from a debilitating foot disease. She’s the only elephant at the sanctuary who was born in captivity.
The Teva design will protect the bottoms of Tina’s feet so she can navigate throughout the habitat pain-free. When she gets her new shoes you’ll be able to watch her on the sanctuary’s way cool Elecam. Will this sell Tiva shoes to humans? You bet! But Teva is missing a big opportunity by not integrating the elephant project with its Web site. And the project cries out for a blog.
“Perhaps she will start an elephant fashion craze,” said Teva’s rep in a release on Business Wire. Or something.
It is one heck of a PR opportunity. I mean, if their shoes can relieve an elephant’s foot pain, just imagine what they could do for a human. I think it’s a coup for Teva. It won’t sell shoes unless Teva tries to milk it, but either way, it does loads of good things for the brand.
You’re right! I can just see the ads now — elephant tough shoes. I want a pair!
BL
I am a self confessed fashion freak! i have over 1000 pairs of shoes & sandals, even though i have worn only half of them, i still continue on my crusade to find that perfect pair, only thing is, i almost always think that i have found the perfect pair at the time of purchase, but the buzz quickly fades once i get my credit card bill!
i thank you for your “B.L. Ochman’s blog: Tiva Makes Sandals For Sore-Footed Elephant” page.
It gave a true fashion freak the perfect fix!