“Since the dawn of time, people have found nifty ways to clean up after the bathroom act” says this article in CNN.com…. The ancient Greeks used clay and stone; the Romans, sponges and salt water. But the idea of a commercial product designed solely to wipe one's bum? That started about 150 years ago, in the U.S.A. In less than a century, Uncle Sam's marketing genius turned something disposable into something indispensable. "
And the size of the toilet paper market in the USA alone? $6 billions.
The article adds: “The spread of globalization can kind of be measured by the spread of Western bathroom practices," When average citizens in a country start buying toilet paper, wealth and consumerism have arrived. It signifies that people not only have extra cash to spend, but they've also come under the influence of Western marketing.
So how ‘westernised’ is India, going by this yardstick? Well, according to The Hindu that quotes the World Watch Institute, toilet paper sales in India in 2007 amounted to just $ 7.7 million. The per capita consumption is one of the lowest in the world.
Hmmm. “Per capita” means “per head”. Rather a wrong choice of words to describe consumption of toilet paper, don’t you think?
And the size of the toilet paper market in the USA alone? $6 billions.
The article adds: “The spread of globalization can kind of be measured by the spread of Western bathroom practices," When average citizens in a country start buying toilet paper, wealth and consumerism have arrived. It signifies that people not only have extra cash to spend, but they've also come under the influence of Western marketing.
So how ‘westernised’ is India, going by this yardstick? Well, according to The Hindu that quotes the World Watch Institute, toilet paper sales in India in 2007 amounted to just $ 7.7 million. The per capita consumption is one of the lowest in the world.
Hmmm. “Per capita” means “per head”. Rather a wrong choice of words to describe consumption of toilet paper, don’t you think?
Interesting!
ReplyDeleteWonder what other term might be appropriate - per-crapita?
Usha, that was brilliant. Per crapita, it shall be!
ReplyDeleteRaj,
ReplyDeleteThat was really good. You are getting wicked.
Companies can think of printing their marketing reports / forecasts etc on tissue paper, so that they truly can find some value.
...Balaji...
We Indians will choose old newspapers over those Westernized concepts any day.
ReplyDeleteBesides water-wash is the best kind of wash money cannot buy.
Imagine a westerner wiping his bum and then shaking hands with strangers. Horrible fellows - and then they complain of bird flu and swine flu...