A few years back I met Johnny Earle, founder of the company Johnny Cupcakes.? I had never heard of Johnny Cupcakes at the time, and to be honest, as he described the company it didn’t make a lot of sense to me.? The company’s product line consists primarily of t-shirts emblazoned with a skull and crossbones, with the skull replaced by a cupcake.
I figured they must sell about 10 t-shirts a year.? How wrong I was.? I’m not sure exactly how many t-shirts they do sell, but it is some enormous number.? In addition to selling online, they have three swank “bakeries” (i.e. stores) where you can buy the t-shirts.
What really convinced me that Johnny Cupcakes was for real were the tattoos.? More than 100 die-hard fans have shown their affection for the brand by getting Johnny Cupcake tattoos.? You must be doing something special if you can induce 100 people to permanently emboss your logo on their bodies.
So what does this have to do with my mother?? Since the day Freakonomics came out, she has assiduously collected all my press clippings and videotaped every TV appearance.? She sings my praises to anyone who will listen.? Without a doubt, she has been my No. 1 fan.
I am sorry to say, Mom, that as of today you have been demoted to the rank of No. 2 fan.? Our new No. 1 fan is Jennifer Garcia.? Jennifer just finished nursing school.? She says she is our biggest fan.? And unlike my mother, she has gone the extra mile and shown her loyalty in the form of a tattoo…
Yes, there finally is a Freakonomics tattoo, thanks to Jennifer.
In gratitude, we will be sending Jennifer some Freakonomics schwag.? Indeed, we will happily send Freakonomics schwag to anyone who sends us a picture of their Freakonomics tattoo.? After all, we are still 99 tattoos behind Johnny Cupcakes.
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OMG I’m at a loss for words. I never imagined that my daughters behind would be in the New York Times. Well Steven I hope she gets more than just schwag for this one! I had no idea she was such a big fan of yours. Maybe i’ll start reading your column to find out what possessed her to do this. What the heck is Freakonomics?
Jenns’ Mom
A sense of value only a mother could love. Hope she still does.
The real question is where on her body does she have the tattoo? Some places are better than others.
Schwag? I always though it was SWAG, for Stuff We All Get.
Hmmmm.
Son, you are the real tattoo embossed on your mom’s heart.
You’ll never know till you become a mom.
– Mom in Boston
The tatoo is on my lower back people, incase you were wondering, and Yes I AM THE BIGGEST FREAKONOMICS FREAK that is out there! By the way thanks for the Schwag guys. Just got it yesterday! If I may give recognition where credit is due… For all who want a tatoo just like mine see Jay Garza at Envious Tattoos 4414 Leopard St. C.C. Texas. And come on people, let’s try to eat a litlte bit more kangaroo!!! Levitt, you are awesome!
This gives me an idea: Would you guys consider Freakonomics rub-on tattoos? That way we can start cobranding children early on.
Jenn, you now have fans too (or at least one).
-Matt
PS – If I changed my middle name to Freakonomics, where would that land me on the ranking chart of top fans?
I’d get a Freakonomic-tat if someone’d pay for it! A big a-s one on my back, too! Take that for your “sorry capitalism”!