According to the BBC News website, Tupperware is planning a relaunch in the UK. It is eight years since they axed their Parties over here, but now feel the time is right to try again.
By coincidence, yesterday, I re-organised my ‘Tupperware Collection’ – but I confess that although I call it that, the majority of it is not the genuine article [it’s a bit like saying ‘Hoover’ instead of vacuum cleaner, or ‘Fairy’ instead of washing-up liquid] We were given a few pieces as wedding presents – a set of the bizarrely named “Square-rounds” which were actually rectangular, and also a jug.
But these days, I think I am down to three ‘genuine’ pieces – my batter-shaker, butter-dish, and the large divided platter for crudités…[and they’re all over 20 years old!]
All the rest is either poundshop stuff, or pukka Lock-and-Lock.
Back in the 70s and 80s, I went to a few parties…
…but I usually found it embarrassing, as I didn’t really have spare cash for plastic boxes. I’d flick through the catalogue looking for the cheapest item, and then end up giving it away as a Christmas gift.
And then one of the other guests would agree to host a party at her house, and I’d cringe in case she invited me along, and I would have to do the same thing all over again. But the agents were very dedicated in their sales patter – especially the bit about ‘burping’ the lids to expel the excess air and keep the contents fresh.
Having sorted my set of boxes, and been ruthless about items bereft of their partners, I think I can safely say,
I do not need any more Tupperware, thank you!
Here is one of my favourite pie-charts
The Parties started in 1948, and according to Alison Clarke, [author of ‘Tupperware: The Promise of Plastic in 1950s America’]
“Tupperware Parties were revolutionary in that they offered an alternative model for commercial success based around female co-operation rather than aggressive competition. The actual networks of Tupperware parties were about women helping other women and enabling them. It wasn't discussed as work - it was an extension of socialising. It was the antithesis of male corporate culture. It was the opposite of Mad Men."
I wait with interest to see if the relaunch works. If you want to check out the current catalogue, you can find it here
Do you have any genuine Tupperware?
Did you ever go to the parties?
What about those of you in other countries [USA, Canada, France, Ireland etc] – do they still have the parties there?
Are you a Lock-And-Lock convert?
Or a Lakeland Plastics aficionado?
I have four items of tupperware - bought at a party organsied by one of the GB mums when I was in Warrington...
ReplyDelete- a pair of large mixing bowls with lids, fantastically useful for carrying enormous quantities of soup to church functions
- a crudite and dip thing simlar to yours but with removeable compartments; I've long since lost the lid to the tub for the 'dip'... gone to Narnia maybe; ideal for manse open house events
- two separate sets of cookie/pastry cutters which come in when I want to bake biscuits for church functions
I think the cost of said items came to around £50 at the time... an absolute fortune it has to be said. However they do all carry a notional life time guarantee....
One of my friends has the batter mixer and makes amazing 'funnel cakes' with it.
Firstly, I would love to wear one of those 'shirtwaist' dresses again!
ReplyDeleteI still have one piece of genuine Tupperware, a sort of collection of lemon squeezer, grater etc all contained in a plastic box, very useful.
Other than that I have, a bit like the socks, a lot of boxes without lids, and a lot of lids without boxes......
Didn't go to any parties when I lived in the UK, and I have never heard Canadians mention Tupperware.
ReplyDeleteJane x
P.S. Canadians do not know what 'hoovering' is..it is vacuuming. 'Washing up' is doing the dishes. Washing up is washing your hands to freshen up. Phew! That's only the beginning.
I just bought some tumblers with lids for the grandchildren. I think 36 dollars was a high price to pay for them! The sippy tops are hard to get on and off, too. Oh well. I have a big red Tupperware bowl that my sweet neighbor gave me, but I've already lost the lid. Drat. I do have a slim water jug and I am going to go hunt for it right now. I love what you say about buying the cheapest item. Oh, if I had a Tupperware lid for every time I did THAT!
ReplyDeleteI have got some tupperware boxes that I bought in 1976 AND I still have the lids. Is this a record? I have to admit that they are starting to look like I've had them for over 30 years, though. They have actually seen a lot of use over the years.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the Vitalite margarine tubs - especially from the time when it was first introduced and the tubs were billed as reuseable and did not have "Vitalite" in large letters around the side. They have lasted almost as well as my tupperware but vitalite have been mean and changed the type of tub they use so they are not so useful any more. I'm now on to the 1 kilo Stork tubs as replacement for Vitalite tubs but as they have opaque lids, it is not so easy to see at a glance in the fridge whether the tub is full of actual marg or leftovers.
How lovely to hear of someone else who would cringe at Tupperware parties because of lack of finance! I was given a couple of small containers but still didn't think they were worth the money.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they will make a go of it as there are some excellent containers in supermarkets these days.
But maybe some people like those sort of parties - ours used to consist of lots of food and loud music into the small hours! Those were the days!