Toledo Blade

Bin Laden image on urinal mats spurs brisk sales for local firms

Pictures of Osama bin Laden have been showing up in bars, restaurants, and workplaces across the country, thanks to two Lucas County janitorial suppliers.

Fresh Products, Inc. in Toledo and Impact Products Inc. in Sylvania Township each sell urinal mats showing bin Laden’s face that have been purchased by the thousands by businesses.

Both companies expect their mats to be in demand until alleged terrorist mastermind bin Laden is captured or killed in the war in Afghanistan.

Many of the mats appear to be purchased by beverage salesmen and other marketers who give them away as a promotion to the bars and restaurants they call on, said Larry Bang, of Krazy Marketing Associates, Inc., in Florida.

"They’ve been fun," he said. "I’ve had people call from all over the world for this stuff."

Fresh Products has sold thousands of its red mats in the past two weeks, with one style showing bin Laden with his mouth open, said company vice president Michael Baez.

Some distributors are reselling the mats for up to $5 - at least four times the price for plain mats that fit in the bottom of urinals to keep large refuse from falling into the plumbing.

John Harbal, president and chief executive of Impact Products, which has had its urinal screens on the market for a month, said his company has sold 40,000 mats which have a picture of bin Laden and the words "Stop Terrorism. Operation Enduring Freedom."

Impact made its bin Laden mats in yellow to signify cowardice, said Bob Armbruster, the company’s vice president of sales.

The bin Laden mats have proven more popular than those the company tried with Saddam Hussein during the Persian Gulf War, but Impact Products is printing bin Laden’s picture on mats only as it gets orders.

Not making a big investment in the screens is probably wise, said Bob Preuss, news editor of Cleaning and Maintenance Management trade magazine.

"People will probably quickly tire of Osama’s image," he said.

There specialized products have evoked strong emotions, for them and against them.

"We sold them all," said Larry Vavul, manager of Atlas Restaurant Supply in South Bend, Ind. "But I think they’re disgusting."

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

Answers

I've been seeing postcards about those urinal screens, actually different ones, but the message is the same. The ones in the mail look better as they have his face centered and larger on the mat, which would make one think that he couldn't be missed. And yet some guys still miss.

I'm wondering if management is going to buy some for the bathrooms at work...and if anyone would steal them for souvenirs. LOL

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

". . .if anyone would steal them . . ."

Perish the thought, Barefoot!

Notice these products come from Ohio. . .

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

Would you steal one after it had been used? I sure wouldn't!

They need to find something for us women!

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

". . . find something for us women."

OBL's face on a sanitary product?

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

Oh hell. I have heard that bin Laden has kidney trouble, and was hoping it had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

And for those of us past it, how about litter box liners?

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

gives a whole new meaning to "Pi$$ on YOU!!!!

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001