# Western Civilization will collapse without Harry Potter Cupcakes! (merchandising) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2001, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990 "2001-11-12T22:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/1 "2001-11-12T22:29:18Z")
That was the Better Half’s response to my reading aloud a blurb in Sunday’s _Parade_ magazine about [The Harry Potter Cupcake Kit.](http://www.cybercakes.com/CupcakePicks/harrypotterkit.jpg) > [@](#): > > Harry Potter Cupcake Kit > (includes 1 package of each of the following: icing > decorations, petite icing decorations, baking cups, and > 1 oz. sprinkles) So of course I just had to go browsing around on the various [cake decorating](http://www.cybercakes.com/harry_potter.html) websites, and I have come to the conclusion that, as merchandising tie-ins go, Harry Potter cake decorating accessories are just, somehow–very _strange_. And that the Harry Potter Cupcake Kit has to win some kind of “extreme strangeness” prize. But I dunno what, exactly. “Most Egregious Something”, but I can’t figure out what, my mind keeps boggling. First, there’s the whole concept of a “cupcake kit”, and then there’s the Harry Potter tie-in. My brain keeps coming up with a blue screen. Anyway, let us now all take turns posting our nominations for “Most Egregiously Strange or Something Harry Potter Merchandising Tie-In”. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/2 "2001-11-12T23:20:06Z")
I think you’ll be pleasantly suprised. Rowlings, the author, has a veto on all merchandising and is actually taking a pretty principled stance. So, no MacPotter Burger “to celebrate the release of…” ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/3 "2001-11-12T23:32:04Z")
Do Cupcakes come up in the books? \ That would make a reasonable tie-in. The Potter food merchandise is interesting (to me at least). Sure we’ve had Batman or Jurassic Park or whatever sweets before, but generally the ties in are the bag art and perhaps the shape of the food. (Dinos on the bag, dino shapes in the bag), but with the Potter books there are foods mentioned that are appearing as merchandise: I’ve see Chocolate Frogs (with collectable cards) and Bott’s Every Flavour jelly-beans being sold (_sadly without flavours like snot and ear-wax_). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/4 "2001-11-13T01:08:38Z")
Chocolate Frogs and the like I can understand, but I don’t recall cupcakes ever being mentioned in the books. I suppose, of course, that they might have been mentioned under a British name that I don’t recognize… But then, what’s so odd about Harry Potter cupcakes? Go down to your local Dairy Queen sometime and look at the cakes on display: Half of them will have depictions of popular children’s fictional characters. Harry’s a popular children’s character, so he gets junk food with his likeness. ---
**Author:** ![Kipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kipper)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/5 "2001-11-13T04:07:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Futile Gesture \* > \*\*I think you’ll be pleasantly suprised. Rowlings, the author, has a veto on all merchandising and is actually taking a pretty principled stance. > > So, no MacPotter Burger “to celebrate the release of…” \*\* Well Burger King is going to do a Lord of the Rings promo next month… shudder. ---
**Author:** ![RoboDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@RoboDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoboDude)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/6 "2001-11-13T06:11:30Z")
> [@](#): > > The Potter food merchandise is interesting (to me at least). Sure we’ve had Batman or Jurassic Park or whatever sweets before, but generally the ties in are the bag art and perhaps the shape of the food. (Dinos on the bag, dino shapes in the bag), but with the Potter books there are foods mentioned that are appearing as merchandise: > > I’ve see Chocolate Frogs (with collectable cards) and Bott’s Every Flavour jelly-beans being sold (sadly without flavours like snot and ear-wax). Speaking of food, I vaguely recall an ad for some kind of toy that was like the old Dr. Dreadful food lab redesigned with a Harry Potter theme. Anyone else heard of it? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/7 "2001-11-13T07:18:40Z")
I haven’t noticed that Harry Potter products have any more integrity then Pokemon, GI Joe, or Barbie. Marc ---
**Author:** ![hypergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/49beb7/32.png) [@hypergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hypergirl)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/8 "2001-11-13T18:23:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RoboDude \* > \*\* > Speaking of food, I vaguely recall an ad for some kind of toy that was like the old Dr. Dreadful food lab redesigned with a Harry Potter theme. Anyone else heard of it? \*\* I have seen it too. I think the name was something like Professor Snape’s Potions Lab or something. I saw it when I was flipping through the Toys R Us catalog. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/9 "2001-11-14T00:38:06Z")
I’m kinda food obsessed, so if Harry and friends had mentioned cupcakes I think I would have noticed. Harry’s favorite seems to be treacle tart (blech!), although pumpkin cakes are also mentioned in the list of things sold on the train to school. They might have been cup-cake shaped. I don’t think the book specified. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/10 "2001-11-14T16:29:27Z")
Oog. :rolleyes: I saw an enormous Harry Potter display at Kroger this morning, with [Professor Snape’s Potions Class](http://www.sylvanlaneshoppe.com/harrypotter_potions.htm) prominently featured in the stack. So of course I moseyed on over and spent a while reading boxes and taking notes. Main ingredient (of course): Sugar. Disclaimers: Two. The usual “Not Dishwasher Safe”, and then there was one that would bring the Potions Class a nomination for “Most Egregiously Strange or Something”, if I hadn’t already decided that the Cupcake Kit was far and away the winner. > [@](#): > > **"NOVELTY ONLY: This product is for entertainment purposes only and no medical or other benefits or effects are claimed for use of the potions."** So I stood there for a while trying to imagine the kind of person who would buy a Kool-Aid and Gummy Worm “potions” kit and seriously expect to get some kind of medical or other benefit or effect from it. My brain kept giving me a blue screen on that one, so I gave up trying. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/11 "2001-11-14T16:46:20Z")
Merchandising! Merchandising! Where the real money from the film is made! Spaceballs the breakfast cereal! Spaceballs the Flamethrower! (The kids love this one!) And finally, Spaceballs the doll, me! “May the Schwartz be with you!” ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/12 "2001-11-14T18:04:04Z")
I was in a Stuff-Mart the other day and saw a large display of full-size plastic “Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 Flying Brooms” (I assume the brooms did not actually FLY, but I could be wrong.) :rolleyes: My first thought was of course, “Gee, you couldn’t buy your kid an actual BROOM for him to pretend he’s flying.” Also spotted: Harry Potter toothpaste and brush set. The every-flavor beans are actually sorta cute, as are the “Witch” and “Wizard” bumperstickers. ---
**Author:** ![RoboDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@RoboDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoboDude)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/13 "2001-11-14T21:11:08Z")
> [@](#): > > So I stood there for a while trying to imagine the kind of person who would buy a Kool-Aid and Gummy Worm “potions” kit and seriously expect to get some kind of medical or other benefit or effect from it. Probably the same kind of person who needs to be reminded that “Cape does not enable user to fly”. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/14 "2001-11-14T21:28:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by voguevixen \* > \*\*I was in a Stuff-Mart the other day and saw a large display of full-size plastic “Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 Flying Brooms” (I assume the brooms did not actually FLY, but I could be wrong.) :rolleyes: > > My first thought was of course, “Gee, you couldn’t buy your kid an actual BROOM for him to pretend he’s flying.”\*\* I’ve recently finished reading the first Potter book, and in fairness to the above bit of merchandise, it _is_ consistent with the Potter universe. In the books there are several makes and models of flying brooms, with the Nimbus 2000 apparently being the top-of-the-line model, especially for talented Quidditch players. The book makes great pains to distinguish between the spiffy Nimbus and the ratty old brooms that new students are initially handed to teach them how to fly. The younger Harry Potter fan will probably not be satisfied with a non-Nimbus broom. 🙂 It’s crass, souless merchandising, but at least it’s consistent with its source material. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/15 "2001-11-14T22:24:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Futile Gesture \* > **I think you’ll be pleasantly suprised. Rowlings, the author, has a veto on all merchandising and is actually taking a pretty principled stance.** Then how come there’s this load of merchandising? It is because, and I quote (sort of), “_Harry Potter_ is ™ and ©2001 Warner Bros., Inc.?” ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/16 "2001-11-14T22:25:15Z")
Darn! That should be “ **Is it** because…” ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/17 "2001-11-14T22:44:53Z")
I can’t remember where I read it, but the only corporate tie-in for Harry Potter is Coca-Cola. That is somewhat different than merchandising HP toys, games and stuff. But you will notice there are no HP happy kiddie meals at any of the fast food places. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/18 "2001-11-15T05:01:04Z")
Actually getting a happy meal for Harry Potter would be impossible because Disney has exclusive with Micky D’s for a while. But even though BK isn’t doing it not having a kid meal is hardly the mark of ‘classy only’ tie ins. When I read the book I thought the every flavor (flavour?) beans as obvious rip off of Jelly Belly but now I think it was just a set up for a tie in. ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/19 "2001-11-15T05:23:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MGibson \* > **I haven’t noticed that Harry Potter products have any more integrity then Pokemon, GI Joe, or Barbie.** Barbie. They always have to bag Barbie. Typical knee-jerk liberal response. Barbie has an incredible amount more of integrity than any old stinkin Pokemon. Another example of the tall poppy syndrome. Cut the high achiever down to size. Well Barbie’s got integrity big time, and spare integrity is available (doll not included) any time you’re in the pink aisle. Redboss ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990/20 "2001-11-15T19:23:43Z")
> [@](#): > > When I read the book I thought the every flavor (flavour?) beans as obvious rip off of Jelly Belly but now I think it was just a set up for a tie in. Oh, come on. She put them in because they’re funny, and set up some cheap gags (Gah! Earwax!). Do you really think that she knew before _Philospher’s Stone_ just how big this was going to get? I mean, when was the last time you saw a kid’s book with a candy spinoff? OK, _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_, but somehow I doubt that Dahl draws in much profits from the candies… And it’s certainly not something that a new author can _expect_! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-civilization-will-collapse-without-harry-potter-cupcakes-merchandising/92990.md?page=2)