Some smokers are plenty steamed. Why, by hiding those unpleasant images and messages. Leading the backlash is a Montreal firm which is marketing a cardboard sleeve that fits over a cigarette package, and contains brightly coloured designs and photos. They're called Bootiez. They only started selling two months ago and are tough to find in Calgary, but sales representatives at distributor CTC Canada say they're selling like crazy.
People are just tired of all the warning labels now.
Smokers want an alternative, something to personalize their cigarette packs and add a little sunshine, if you want to say, to the smoking experience. David says the company is now distributing to more than 1,000 stores across Canada, including at least one in Calgary. Customers like them, Chang says, because they're offended by warning labels. People just don't like the labels, especially the ones with the damaged teeth. There are ones with hearts and lungs too.