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HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
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FEBRUARY 2012
ILLUSTRATIONS BY PETER OUMANSKI
EVERY YEAR, EMPLOYEES
of the Massachuse s candy company
Necco gather to sort through thousands of suggestions for what
to imprint on their iconic “conversationhearts.” The submissions,
all sent in by customers, are hit-or-miss: “Here’s one that just says
‘Bacon,’” says research and quality VP Jeff Green, quizzically.
While somemight like to imagine Cupid himself scrawling the
sayings onto the sweets, which debuted nearly a century and
a half ago (one early flavor was “musk”), the reality is that the
slogans have to pass muster in the boardroombefore they reach
the public. “I got my first ‘Fist Pump’!” says products manager
Jennifer Chambers. “What’s ‘BFFL’?” Green asks. “Best Friends For
Life,” says Chambers, who admits she has a texting cheat sheet.
Digging deeper, Chambers notes, “Looks like there’s a lot of
‘Bieber Fever’ out there, especially in Texas.” Those get tossed.
“Hmm, ‘IOU a Kiss’—that’s kind of cute,” she says. “My Panda” is
nixed, as is the equally confusing “Peanut Bu er &Jelly.” And then
they strike gold: “Got Lips?” “Love, love,
love
it!” Green exclaims.
Long a er the ve ing process is complete and the candies have
shipped, some boxesmight still hold a few surprises, even for the
Necco folks. “When you’re printing on candy,” Green says, “the
le ers can get cut off,” owing to the company’s antique stamping
equipment. Sometimes this renders the message merely illeg-
ible, but at other times launches it into the realm of the vulgar.
“Some people are irate,” he says, “but others call us to say, ‘Can I
get more of these?’”
There’s one thing, however, that the company guarantees you’ll
never see: a candy with a breakup slogan, like “Call My Lawyer.”
Declares Chambers, “We’re all about the love!”
Sweet Talk
Ge ing the last word on candy heart slogans
BY DIANE BAIR AND PAMELAWRIGHT
REVERE, MASS.
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