About a year ago, an inventor approached me about marketing a product for pantyhose. The product reinforced pantyhose so they wouldn't run. They way it worked was simple: you just rinsed your pantyhose in the solution and they would be as strong as steel.
However, when I talked to friends and associates about the product they all looked at me as if I were crazy. "Who wears pantyhose anymore?"
I decided not to pursue the opportunity but it peaked my interest in the pantyhose category --a category that many believe has seen its better day.
The inventor was not the only person trying to create some excitement in the category. In Europe, according to coolest gadgets.com they are now marketing Caffeine Tights.
"
There is now a way we can control our caffeine intake by wearing
Palmers “Slim Fit 20” caffeine tights (well ladies at least anyway!).
Another side effect of wearing these tights on a daily basis is an
approximate loss of around 2cm from the thighs, reduces the appearance
of cellulite and the dreaded “orange peel” effect – bonus!
The
way the tights work is that body heat releases caffeine microcapsules
into the leg, thus promoting the metabolism to kick in and start fat
burning. According to the makers, results should be apparent in about
1-4 weeks, but they do say they may not work for everyone."
According to one report, they work for about 1/3 of users.---probably not enough to save the pantyhose market which the Global Market Review Of Hosiery – Forecasts To 2012,’ report says pantyhose sales are expected to drop 4% by 2012.
More dire, experts don't see a market turnaround. However it is the cause of the sales decline that caught my eye.
"Firstly, the climate in a huge part of the world means that there is no need to wear hosiery...
Reasons for the sector’s decline include the changing social attitudes toward bare legs, and global warming, which casts off the need for extra warmth."
Living in Minnesota, I can tell you that pantyhose provide little or no warmth. In fact, to wear pantyhose in the winter is akin to walking outside bare legged.
No,the decline of pantyhose has a lot less to do with the thermometer and a lot more with consumers who were tired of spending money on a product that didn't last, was uncomfortable to wear and was a pain in the butt to take care of.
The reason women stopped wearing pantyhose is quite simple --because we could.
Shout out
To Tightsplease for background info on Caffeine Tights.
My StumbleUpon Page
