Even with the increasing publicity of the harmful effects of tobacco and billion dollar lawsuits over the same issue, tobacco companies have not changed their strategies.
This ad from a 1997 magazine tells readers to call for the Virginia Slims catalog. The small text states that the merchandize offer expires and orders must be received by 2/28/98; that meant that a woman or girl would have had to smoke hundreds and hundreds of cigarettes within months to have enough "credits" to get the merchandize in the catalog.
Merchandize catalogs are also distributed via direct mail using extensive mailing lists compiled by the cigarette companies. These effectively reach women (and girls) where they live. |
