After the first IRON MAN movie took 7-Eleven stores by storm in 2008, with customers clamoring to buy collectible cups and boosting Slurpee sales by double digits, Marvel Studios’ IRON MAN 2 is returning to 7-Eleven to celebrate release of the Paramount Pictures’ film on May 7.
In both movies, Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark, a billionaire whose lavish lifestyle is interrupted only by his need to keep the world safe from those who wish to destroy it.
“Collect Like a Super Hero; Live Like a Billionaire” – that’s Tony Stark-speak for the Slurpee promotion, which includes a new Invincible Orange Slurpee flavor, a record-number of collectible Slurpee and Big Gulp cups, and an online sweepstakes to win a luxury trip to Los Angeles. Developed by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, the Invincible Orange Slurpee flavor blends Sunkist Orange with vanilla cream to create a refreshing orange cream or orange float flavor.
“IRON MAN 2 is a great vehicle to promote our Slurpee drinks since we know 7-Eleven customers love Marvel Super Heroes and we think this sequel promises to be even bigger than the original,” 7-Eleven Marketing Manager Evan Brody said. “Tony Stark is a good guy, but he’s a quirky character, and his crime-fighting methods are a little unorthodox. I think Slurpee-drinkers can relate to a character that doesn’t always play by the rules.”
“7-Eleven is a great partner for IRON MAN 2 and we are impressed by their unique approach to provide fans of the film franchise collectible items that will celebrate the sequel’s release,” said Robert Sabouni, senior vice president of Business Development and Promotions for Marvel Studios. “We look forward to this partnership replicating the success 7-Eleven achieved when we released IRON MAN two years ago.”
Cups, Straws and Sweepstakes
Always looking to up the ante on its Slurpee promotions, 7-Eleven has expanded its collectible cup count to 10 for IRON MAN 2 – four lenticular Slurpee cups, four premium Super Big Gulp cups and two premium molded character mugs – and added flying character straws.
Each action-packed lenticular Slurpee cup features never- before-seen film shots of the all-star cast – Iron Man and his crime-fighting partner War Machine (Don Cheadle), as well as Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and villain Whiplash (Mickey Rourke). The cups feature multiple frames from the movie to enhance the action effect. Even the domed cup lids have been redesigned for the promotion, shaped like the helmets accompanying the armored suits.
Each collectible IRON MAN 2 Slurpee cup has a code printed on the inside which can be entered at www.slurpee.com to earn points redeemable for real and virtual prizes as well as to enter sweepstakes like the “Collect Like a Super Hero-Live Like a Billionaire.”
Similar to the collectible Slurpee cups, the Super Big Gulp cups feature static images of the four IRON MAN 2 Super Heroes and super villains.
New this year are two collectible 13-inch-tall mugs that replicate the movie’s two good guys – Iron Man in his characteristic red and gold armor and War Machine’s heavy-duty weaponized armor.
7-Eleven began including collectible action figures to straws as part of its movie promotions a few years ago. Characters have been reproduced as magnets and come with their own display stands. This year, they fly. 7-Eleven will offer three different IRON MAN 2 Slurpee spoon-straws with Iron Man, War Machine or Whiplash figurines designed to fly around the straw or detached as a toy or collectible.
Besides collecting cups and straws like a Super Hero, Slurpee fans are encouraged to head to www.slurpee.com to enter the “Collect Like a Super Hero; Live Like a Billionaire” sweepstakes that runs from April 1-May 31, 2010. The winner, selected in a random drawing, will receive a luxury Tony Stark-style trip for four to Los Angeles. The trip includes first-class air fare, two premiere suites and adjoining deluxe room at a luxury hotel for three nights, $5,000 cash for a Rodeo Drive shopping spree, lunch and dinner at The Ivy and Spago, limousine service, personal assistant and private tours of Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Retail value of the trip is approximately $30,000.
The sweepstakes can be entered online by redeeming five Slurpee Nation rewards points for entry. The contest can be entered up to five times per day. No purchase is necessary to win; instructions for entering for free without using points is available at www.slurpee.com. Participating 7-Eleven stores also will carry DVDs of the original IRON MAN movie as well as animated Iron Man shorts created by Marvel Entertainment.