topic Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS? in Community Chat

SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

Lindsays Grandma — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 05:43:13 GMT

The name certainly rolls off the tongue better than the general cotton swab name, that's for sure.

How was the Q Tip first conceived? Leo Gerstenzang observed his wife stick a bit of cotton to a toothpick and decided she had the right idea and he improved on it in 1923 when it became known as the "Q Tip," the Q standing for the word "Quality." And there we have the "Q Tip."

Originally named "Baby Gay's." The first three years the cotton swabs were called "Baby Gay's," which was later modified to become "Q-Tip Baby Gay's." Down the road they dropped "Baby Gay's" altogether and were just left with "Q-Tip."

So there we have another story my sister in Florida passed on to me, which I in turn have just passed on to all of you.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

Foxxee — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 11:44:04 GMT

That's interesting toothpicks came before Q-tips. To think Q-tips might not have been invented without them.

Q-tip became the generic name for cotton swabs.

"Genericization:"

A brand name becomes so popular and commonplace, it's used generically.

Other examples of genericization.

Thermos

Popsicle

Laundromat

Aspirin

TV Dinner (What Swanson named its frozen dinners.)

Velcro

Plexiglass

Zipper

Crock-Pot

Post-It-Note

Escalator

Vaseline

Kleenex

Zerox

Bubble Wrap

Photoshop

Band-Aid

Dumpster

Chapstick

iPod

Jacuzzi

Cellophane

App (Apple coined the word "app" for application.)

Fiberglass

Astroturf

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

Lindsays Grandma — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 06:58:00 GMT

@Foxxee ...I have to congratulate you for how quickly you entered the names of other examples of generalization. Interesting though, isn't it?

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

AnjalenaQVC — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 07:52:14 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC because it contains a link.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

ValuSkr — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:35:52 GMT

I think it was good they dropped the Baby Gays part.

I've bought store-brand cotton swabs and they aren't as good as the J&J product - they bend more easily. But they're cheaper and that's important too.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:47:58 GMT

I'll share this with my husband. He goes through those things like crazy, and it has to be the real thing. He will not stand for any imitation!

When he's down to several hundred he asks me to get back up.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

amyb — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:03:22 GMT

@Foxxee Thanks for that list! I always find it interesting, and the sign of true success in your field when your brand name becomes the name everyone uses for the product itself! I was amazed at how many there actually are. Thanks for posting that.

For some reason, that I maybe made up in my own head...I thought Apps were just short for "application."...not Apple related?

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

candys mine — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:15:56 GMT

@Foxxee It's funny how the Brand names become universal. I had a translation book where one of the questions was "Do you need a Kleenex?" In Every language it was Kleenex Except for English. In english it was Facial Tissue. Some sort of copywrite thing.

Isn't App short for Application?

How about

JELL-O

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

mamaslittlepotato — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:52:52 GMT

For years I thought all pork roll was actually Taylor Ham.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

Foxxee — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 11:26:39 GMT

@candys mine wrote:
@Foxxee It's funny how the Brand names become universal. I had a translation book where one of the questions was "Do you need a Kleenex?" In Every language it was Kleenex Except for English. In english it was Facial Tissue. Some sort of copywrite thing.
Isn't App short for Application?
How about
JELL-O

@candys mine

Yes, but Apple was the first to call them Apps. Jello is another good example.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

Foxxee — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 11:29:35 GMT

@amyb wrote:
@Foxxee Thanks for that list! I always find it interesting, and the sign of true success in your field when your brand name becomes the name everyone uses for the product itself! I was amazed at how many there actually are. Thanks for posting that.

For some reason, that I maybe made up in my own head...I thought Apps were just short for "application."...not Apple related?

@amyb

It is short for application, but Apple the first to call them Apps. Quite appropriate since the first 3 letters of Apple are App.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

mspatmac — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:42:02 GMT

There are many search engines but Google seems to be generic. When is the last time someone said Duck Duck Go it or even Bing it. @Lindsays Grandma great thread, thanks

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

Grand Happy — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:45:34 GMT

Very interesting about Q- tips
We stopped using them and instead use the candle method. If none of you have never done it before you're in for a cool experience. You'll be amazed how much wax is at the bottom of the candle after it burns down.
Think about it Everytime you use Q- tips you're shoving most of the wax in not out!!
Watch the Candle method online and try it.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

GenXmuse — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:49:57 GMT

Very interesting! When I first saw the title, I thought it was tips about shopping at the Q! I'm moving slow this morning.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

mom2four0418 — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:56:51 GMT

@Grand Happy wrote:
Very interesting about Q- tips
We stopped using them and instead use the candle method. If none of you have never done it before you're in for a cool experience. You'll be amazed how much wax is at the bottom of the candle after it burns down.
Think about it Everytime you use Q- tips you're shoving most of the wax in not out!!
Watch the Candle method online and try it.

I would never consider doing either method.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

Grand Happy — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:00:18 GMT

You gotta try it.
They're usually at any Heath food store. Maybe Amazon, never thought of that until just now LOL

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

Caffeina — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:07:54 GMT

@mom2four0418 wrote:
@Grand Happy wrote:
Very interesting about Q- tips
We stopped using them and instead use the candle method. If none of you have never done it before you're in for a cool experience. You'll be amazed how much wax is at the bottom of the candle after it burns down.
Think about it Everytime you use Q- tips you're shoving most of the wax in not out!!
Watch the Candle method online and try it.
@Grand Happy wrote:
Very interesting about Q- tips
We stopped using them and instead use the candle method. If none of you have never done it before you're in for a cool experience. You'll be amazed how much wax is at the bottom of the candle after it burns down.
Think about it Everytime you use Q- tips you're shoving most of the wax in not out!!
Watch the Candle method online and try it.
I would never consider doing either method.

I wouldn't either. I also don't stick Q tips in my ear canal.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

CatsyCline — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:39:47 GMT

oops thought this was about seniors being labeled "Q Tips": White Hair White Sneakers.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

GingerPeach — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:04:52 GMT

@Foxxee wrote:
That's interesting toothpicks came before Q-tips. To think Q-tips might not have been invented without them.

Q-tip became the generic name for cotton swabs.

"Genericization:"

A brand name becomes so popular and commonplace, it's used generically.

Other examples of genericization.

Thermos
Popsicle
Laundromat
Aspirin
TV Dinner (What Swanson named its frozen dinners.)
Velcro
Plexiglass
Zipper
Crock-Pot
Post-It-Note
Escalator
Vaseline
Kleenex
Zerox
Bubble Wrap
Photoshop
Band-Aid
Dumpster
Chapstick
iPod
Jacuzzi
Cellophane
App (Apple coined the word "app" for application.)
Fiberglass
Astroturf

Nothing prevents a shopper from saying "I'm going to buy Band-aids and Q-tips." That shopper will find both brand name products and similar products under a different name on the shelves. But it is illegal for another company to use those names for their own products.

Trademark law requires companies to protect their brands.

That's why some, not all, of the above names lost their trademark protection.

On the other hand, consumers still use these terms as the generic term for the same products. Those in the trademark field have their work cut out for them.

Re: SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

GingerPeach — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:11:34 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma wrote:

The name certainly rolls off the tongue better than the general cotton swab name, that's for sure.

How was the Q Tip first conceived? Leo Gerstenzang observed his wife stick a bit of cotton to a toothpick and decided she had the right idea and he improved on it in 1923 when it became known as the "Q Tip," the Q standing for the word "Quality." And there we have the "Q Tip."

Originally named "Baby Gay's." The first three years the cotton swabs were called "Baby Gay's," which was later modified to become "Q-Tip Baby Gay's." Down the road they dropped "Baby Gay's" altogether and were just left with "Q-Tip."

So there we have another story my sister in Florida passed on to me, which I in turn have just passed on to all of you.

You have an investigative sister! She passed on the story from the Q-Tips website, but one that's not immediately obvious to find.

I found it at qtips DOT com/about.