Deck your halls ... and toilet
It stuck — the name and the product.
And who could resist either, when you’re talking Toilet Tattoos?
The whole concept is flush with marketing stickiness.
Celeste Massullo, president of Lena Fiore Inc., came up with the idea as a solution to a decorating dilemma. She launched Toilet Tattoos: The only way to crown your throne after searching for something clean, reusable and fun.
“I was decorating my own halfbath in dark, warm colours,” she said. “Everyone walked in and the white toilet stood out. It became the feature so much, I needed to tone it down.”
She looked for a product to help her accomplish that, but was unsuccessful. All she could find were old-fashioned rug types for the toilet seat. “I have a four-year-old, so I would not even give that a thought. It’s not hygienic and it is outdated.”
Her background is fashion design, so she wanted something stylish that could be cleaned. She also wanted a product that was reusable to change with the decor or season. After an online search,
she learned nobody was producing anything like what she wanted.
First, she tried vinyl — but was unable to find a reusable adhesive. That was a must to be able to remove and clean it. Finally, Massullo found something that worked, found a printer, tested the product for about eight months and trademarked it. She developed the final product over two years of testing.
With established business experience, she knew the steps to take to successfully launch her product. Once she had a good product, she needed a good name.
“Toilet Tattoos stuck with me. It evokes emotion and is memorable.”
At first, Massullo created all the designs herself.
She also hired graphic designers to develop themes.
For this holiday season, it’s possible to co-ordinate your house decor right down to the toilet seat. Snowmen come in several styles. A jolly bulldog, a joyride on a sleigh, a sparkling golden tree, bells, Santa and the reindeer, the 12 days of Christmas and an adorable penguin are just a few of the many choices.
Other seasons feature autumn colours, Halloween, Valentine’s and shamrocks.
Easy to wipe clean, the decorative appliqués use electrostatic energy rather than adhesives, making them reusable and safe for surfaces. If stored properly, they can be used year after year.
Each design is available in elongated (12-by-15 inches, or 30.5-by38.1 centimetres) and round (12by-13.5 inches, or 30.5-by-34.3 cm) to fit standard toilet seats.