Cart History Lesson: the Junkfood Junkie

Once upon a time in the mid 1980's, the owner of the Flower Cart, Mr. Fred Koletar, hired a local Hamilton graphic designer to take his idea for a snack container to the next level. He had already designed the box, but really wanted a professional to perfect the look. The design that Mr. Doyle came up with would become one of the best-selling items in the history of The Flower Cart and throughout the floral industry.

You've probably seen it and have most likely purchased it for someone (or yourself ). Here it is today:

The original design looked a little different, but hit all the right points. It even had a hole in the front where the candy and snacks would actually spill out.

(I think it was decided that this guy looks a little bit too manic for the general public. I kinda like it. It makes me feel super excited about candy.)

After the new design was completed, The Flower Cart began its largest ad campaign in all of its now 50 years in business. We pushed the Junkfood Junkie, and we pushed it hard.

Fred Koletar had a knack for advertisement. He wasn't afraid to push the envelope and had a way of getting consumers' attention with unique ads that bordered on the uncomfortable. I've pulled a few from the "archives" to give you a glimpse into our 1980's style product advertisement.

After the Junkfood Junkie became wildly popular, the number of ads promoting it reduced to almost nothing and most of the sales came simply by word-of-mouth. People who had received it from friends and loved ones, called us up the next occasion they had to send a gift and requested it. And so on and so forth for years.

Then some time in the 90's, the decision was made to sell the design to a gift box company who would distribute it to shops like our across the United States.  Today, gift basket companies and florists like us around the country can purchase the box and sell Junkfood Junkie arrangements in their own towns.

Mike Koletar still feels a strong sense of pride every time he opens a fresh case of Junkfood Junkie boxes, knowing that his father designed one of the most successful products sold in the floral industry in the last 20 years.

Too bad he botched that deal on the royalties...