Everyone’s comments on the last post were thoughtful and interesting to read. I’ve had trouble articulating my feelings but many of you did it for me. I am incredibly sad about the closure, curious about what is going to happen next, and angry on behalf of the families affected by the job losses. Bonne Bell has always been an accessible company which is why this feels so personal.
It’s always easy to say we saw it coming after the fact, but I truly thought the opposite was happening. In the last few years finding a new release locally was like finding gold–the last time that happened for me was with the Girl Scouts party pack–and so the the opening of the webstore was a welcome remedy. I figured BB was slowly transitioning to internet only, and why not? Global fans, nostalgic brand backing… as someone without any business background it made sense to me. Such a unique company, and now going internet only? I dig it.
OK, maybe that’s a little dreamy, but my point is I thought the smacker line was scaling down, not up. I was wrong. Last year had a ton of amazing collections, and then Disney was ramped up over the holidays. That was crazy but then it got really out there: let’s just say I am sitting here with an order of 20+ different Easter smackers. From this year. Over 20! Unheard of.
I suppose we’ll never know if the sheer quantity of smackers (& Disney stuff) is Markwins doing or the direction BB independently decided to go down. My best guess is a mix of both, and it’s clear that BB wanted to please their fans before saying goodbye; Cinnamon Sugar, the novelties, the retro collections. And yes, even the swarovski biggies.
Some things point to the company evolving into something I don’t agree with, but maybe that’s okay. Or maybe Markwins will shock us all, who knows. Whatever happens, it doesn’t erase what BB pulled off. There aren’t many products that successfully carry over from childhood to adulthood (over multiple generations nonetheless), and BB did. It’s a huge testament to their quality.
Im so sad about this….
…
I have mixed feelings about this but I’m mostly confused. Meaning no one has a straight answer of is LS gonna be for sale in US stores or not. Their FB page says yes, but all the news sites say no! You’d think LS would want it everyone to know if their products are gonna be available or not for sure…I don’t know.
But anyway, are you still gonna blog? Even if you don’t buy LS if we can I’d still love to hear more about your collection/vintage stuff ect…I’m just hoping you’ll still blog 🙂
It’s definitely confusing, but I think LS will continue to be distributed here. But beyond that, I’m not sure.
Yes I’ll still be blogging, there’s an insane back catalog of flavors. I’ll collect through 2015 and see where Markwins takes it in ’16 and beyond.
Yeah, it’s so sad. I can just imagine the founder sobbing and rolling in his grave at how his company got abused, workers laid off, the families who counted on that paycheck, ect … 🙁
Of topic, how long did anyone notice when LS started going downhill? The founder died around the middle of April 2005 while I was in the fifth grade towards the end (around Easter depending upon when it fell on, either early or late).
I know my issue when I first read the sad news felt like loosing a big part of my child hood. I’ve been using Bonne Bell and Lip Smacker for the past 25 year or more. These products for lots of us girls was a passage rite into make up. Parents were okay with it because of the light colors and because they had them growing up too. I felt like I was in mourning because this was the main make for for all of my life milestones.
I did rush out and stock up on about 50 or so Lip Smackers so that I can share them with my daughter as she grows up. As more places are discounting them I keep buying more. The last big purchases are going to get the 70s release (if they do it in the trio I read they were doing before) and also paying through the nose for pink lemonade and tropical punch.
It is a huge piece of a lot of people’s childhood, that’s for sure. You sound like a great mom!
Ha! Tropical punch and pink lemonade were the two I got for my daughter for the zombie apocalypse of lip smackers. Too funny! My mom loves strawberry ad caramel, my sister loves the fanta ones, I’m partial to watermelon and cotton candy. I remember getting sets as a kid and wanting to save the best ones for last, so I would use up the really aweful ones first, and it would take forever, but when I got to the great ones, I would love them even more. I wonder how my girl is going to grow to love them without the torture of a really horrific experience? Maybe I’ll set aside that guava or kiwi flavor, or is that just cruel?
Vanilla is one of my least favorites along with spun sugar, they are too bland for my taste and a bit too sweet. lol Tropical punch is my favorite flavor ever.
This recent news has been hard for me to digest, too – I’ve been a loyal fan/customer for nearly 40 years! I’ve written to them, BEGGING them not to do this. :'( I’ve also gone ‘hunting’ for all my favorite flavors, feeling very fortunate having found all I was hoping to find, including my childhood favorite, Bubble Gum. <3 I've also stockpiled my adult favorite, Peppermint. Though they say nothing will change, nobody really knows what the new company will do in the future. A world without Lip Smackers is not a world I want to live in. 🙁
“A world without Lip Smackers is not a world I want to live in.”
Aaahh 🙁
That sounded so wrong, didn’t it? Sorry about that – I totally didn’t mean it like it sounded – just that I’m pretty much hoarding Lip Smackers so I don’t have to live the rest of my life without them! They’ve been part of my life since I was 8, I’m almost 46, so yeah, whatever I need to do to keep them in my life, lol. 😛 I have two, large Danish butter cookie tins full of Lip Smackers (in Ziploc bags) in my fridge – I’ve read they’ll keep longer in the fridge.
Oh no it didn’t! I was commiserating–I too don’t want to live in a world without smackers.
That’s a good idea re: fridge storage, I might have to do that…
Hahaha, okay, good. ^_^ I actually feel a bit ridiculous – this whole thing has made me anxious. 🙁 Kinda how I feel whenever I leave home without my purse with my Lip Smacker inside – I’m one of *those* people – a lip balm addict – there’s a website for people like me – http://www.lipbalmanonymous.com/ – I’m not ashamed, though I probably sound like I am, lol. I really wish our plow guy would come and do our driveway already (I’m snowed in), so I could go Lip Smacker hunting. I’ve already been successful in one of our bigger nearby towns, and I’d like to hit one in the opposite direction, just to make sure I can get as many as I can while I can, lol. Gosh, I sound nuts! 😛
Hahaha, okay, good. ^_^ I actually feel a bit ridiculous – this whole thing has made me anxious. 🙁 Kinda how I feel whenever I leave home without my purse with my Lip Smacker inside – I’m one of *those* people – a lip balm addict – there’s a website for people like me – I’m not ashamed, though I probably sound like I am, lol. I really wish our plow guy would come and do our driveway already (I’m snowed in), so I could go Lip Smacker hunting. I’ve already been successful in one of our bigger nearby towns, and I’d like to hit one in the opposite direction, just to make sure I can get as many as I can while I can, lol. Gosh, I sound nuts! 😛
On a good note I REALLY like the Frozen Smackers. All the flavors are great! Kiwi is a bad flavor? Omg I LOVE Kiwi and so does my daughter!
I couldnt help myself, i HAD to buy an extra Cool Vanilla Mint, Coconut Snowball and Strawberry Shake, Along with the Cupcake set, Skittles Lime with liquid Strawberry and another Soda set.
Me either, I bought another batch with the easter flavors, valentines, and the sun smackers and the cookies and cream and sweet honey ones from PF. I bought the skittles lime in my other pack, hopefully its similar to Lunar Lime!
I’m really sad about Lip Smackers and what sucks is around where I live there won’t and hasn’t been any new Lip Smackers :'( I’m gonna have to buy them online… :'( I’m gonna be happy to see what happens to Lip Smackers soon and I’ll still be collecting. I’ve also heard that still under new management that Lip Smackers will live on! 😀 Google “Lip Smackers” than click news!
I’ve been buying them online and in stores, stocking up – what I love about buying online is that if I spend over $50, shipping is free – plus, the more you buy, the more you save. Buying three dozen at a time, I saved some serious cash.
Even though the company is saying Lip Smackers will live on, nobody really knows what will happen after the changeover – that scares me. Oh yeah, I especially LOVE (sarcasm) this line from Friday’s (Feb. 13th) Today article, “But let’s face it. Women in their thirties and forties are not the consumers that will keep Bonne Bell and Lip Smacker alive. While Markwins seems to have every intention of keeping this demographic happy, they’re really after 6-16 year-olds, said George.” Uh, say WHAT?! From all I’ve read and heard, those most upset about this changeover ARE people in the 30s-40s age range, including myself…I’m 46. I’ve grown up with Lip Smackers, and passed them down to my daughter and youngest son
Exactly- us in our 30s and 40s have to money to spend to buy the products and give the money to the kids. They better rethink that statement over.
Totally agree! I bought more smackers now than I had in my whole childhood because I am a working adult. I used to always go to the smackers counters at Walmart and Target when I was a kid and just look at the new flavors, but I couldn’t buy them all because my parents didn’t spoil me. Now I spoil myself by stocking up on them. I remember my mom taking me to buy wild raspberry as my first flavor at age 5. I’m in my early 20s now. 🙂
Exactly!! Totally agree. Since this news broke, I’ve spent more money on Lip Smackers than I ever did when I was six OR sixteen, LOL! I just spent $25 on Amazon, buying an 8-pack of Wall’s Ice Cream Lip Smackers, nevermind how much I’ve spent on the Lip Smacker website and in stores here. The first Lip Smackers I ever bought with my own money was when I was twelve and I won playing BINGO with my grandmother, and had to split 50/50 with another person who won – I won half of the $25 prize and spent it ALL on Lip Smackers! That was back in like 1981 and things were a LOT cheaper. 😛
For sure, there is some serious brand loyalty on the part of us adults.
This is just anecdotal, but almost every email I receive from bunnycookie readers is from an adult, and I get quite a few emails!
You what I love! When I look up Lip Smackers images a lot of the pictures are from you, Bunny Cookie! <3 <3 😉 🙂
Well I went to Kmart today and got the Christmas Smackers, The Starburst Trio, The Soda Trio (Dr P, Cherry 7up, A&w Rootbeer), and 2 bubblegum singles. All for 7.00. How exciting! I was tempted to buy more but decided the stock I have is almost enough. Haha.
WOW! What a great deal, Maria! LOL @ “almost enough”!!!! I’m sure I probably have enough, too, but I’m not taking any chances, lol. 😉
Oh no if I come across more for an excellent price as such I will definitely get em. I found 4 Party Packs of Originals on Ebay for 19.00 right when the news broke. I scooped that up quick! Gave one to my daughter and stored the other 3. I’m thinkin I need a back up Dulce De Leche..
$19.00 for ALL FOUR?! 😮 That’s an amazing deal! I think I paid $15 for one in a drugstore here – not complaining, just happy I actually found some. I’m still hoping to stock up on more Bubble Gum and Dr. Pepper, but I’m set for Peppermint. 😛
I’ve been storing all my extras in the fridge, in ziplocs in cookie tins – I read about it somewhere, about keeping them in the fridge. I know they’ll melt if they get too warm and yucky if exposed to widely fluctuating temperatures. I learned that lesson the hard way – had some in storage in my garage. 🙁
I think a couple of my Smackers F’lip Juicees has molded, especially the ‘nilla kiwi crush one I have. Maybe it’s not mold and just the colors have globbed up in it (the red especially) but I’m not sure. It still smells good, so I’m keeping it for now.
Yes 19.00 for all 4 Party Packs. It was from a seller on Ebay. I think maybe I will put mine in the fridge. I have em in a small makeup box in my dark closet at the moment.
Well, I’m still holding on to the very end, but with caution. 🙂 I did read an article that said they’d have new flavors for 2015. I sure hope so. And I hope they’re weird/rare/unique flavors.
Heartbroken is all that I can say, I still can’t believe it.
I have a feeling this is going to spawn lots of well-known companies to create a line of flavored lip balms; sure some already have them, but something reminiscent of Lip Smackers endless, unique flavors. I’m sure this is music to lots of VP’s and marketing teams ears.
There will NEVER be another. An icon is dying.
I agree. No Lip Balm will ever compare to Lipsmacker.
I’m with you ladies – there IS no other like Lip Smacker.
Well, I’m finally dug out after three days of being homebound, so I went LS hunting again – made out like a bandit, too! Dollarama had LS at half price! Haha, you’ll all probably get a giggle out of this: I also just had a serious heart-to-heart with the lady in the cosmetic department of Lawton’s (like Walgreens or CVS) about Lip Smackers and Bonne Bell. She’s just like us, heartbroken about this because Lip Smackers were part of her childhood, too. It was nice to have someone to commiserate with, and NOT look at me funny for a change, though, initially, she did assume I was buying for my kid – HA! That’s when our long conversation started – it was awesome.
OMG, has anyone ever tried the Winnie the Pooh Honey Dip Donut? I dunno if the ones I just bought are old/spoiled or what, but they are NASTY. 🙁 I put them in my little guy’s tin with his other flavors, but I’m gonna tell him he can toss them, they’re that icky. 🙁
I haven’t tried the honey dip donut, but I do have the Minnie Mouse and Tinkerbell Disney Park Lip Smackers that I got at the Dollar Tree. They’re the typical sugar and marshmallow-type flavors. Do you have a Dollar Tree in your area? Some of them sell a couple Lip Smackers. I also got a couple Skittles liquid Lip Smackers in berry punch.
Renee, they just smell funky, like they’re no good anymore. My little guy already chucked them – he also thinks they smell yucky, lol. Oh well, they were half price, so no big deal. He was very pleased with the Minnie Mouse Cupcake, Maple Bacon, and Blueberry Pancake, however. 😀
Nope, no Dollar Tree here, unfortunately, the only locations are in BC and Alberta.
Those are some good flavors! He has some good taste in lip balm. I personally like the cutie pie flavor from the Minnie and Daisy collection, which I have in biggy form. I saw some of the biggy cupcake flavor on ebay.
I remember getting the two tropical Lip Smackers trios that came out about five years ago. I remember the guava and papaya flavors smelling AWFUL. They both had this weird black pepper-type scent. The other flavors were awesome though. I know I didn’t like one Starburst Lip Smacker in some kind of dragonfruit flavor. I remember it came in a blue tube and smelled kind of weird.
Renee, I couldn’t reply to the other post, grrr, lol. The Minnie Cupcake is a biggy – and the Maple Bacon he requested after seeing it on here – I was shocked when I found it today! 😀
Is Papaya as bad as you say it is? I have Guava & can only smell some fake plastic sort of scent. I can’t describe it. But I see that it’s pretty popular. What’s your take on the straight marshmallow scents?
I like the marshmallow scents, especially the shimmer one that came out in the Ariel shimmer collection around Christmas of 2013. It smells soooo amazing. I assume the cosmic Smacker version smells the same but I don’t remember.
Yes, the papaya Lip Smacker I had smells awful. It had this weird pepper scent that made me gag whenever I smelled it. It may have been a bad batch, but I don’t recommend it.
Bunny Cookie, would you ever make a post where we could post pictures of our Lip Smacker collections? That would be kind of cool to be able to see what our collections look like.
Yes, I’m with Renee! I think it would be fun!! Count me in. 😀
Great idea, thanks!
Oooo id be in on that post most definitely.