Target, a retail giant identified by its stock symbol (TGT), recently experienced chaotic scenes in its stores nationwide due to the launch of a new product that gained viral attention on social media.
This frenzy was sparked by the release of a limited edition item ahead of the November 22 release of “Wicked,” a prequel film to “The Wizard of Oz” featuring celebrities Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. In anticipation of the film, Stanley, a well-known drinkware brand, released a collection of Wicked-themed insulated cups at Target stores on October 13.
The collection consists of two exclusive Quencher Tumbler designs: a glittery pink version inspired by Glinda, a main character in the film, and a shimmery green version influenced by Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Target offers the 20-ounce cups for $35 and the 40-ounce versions for $55.
Once the collection became available at Target locations, reports indicated that shoppers began queuing outside stores as early as 6 a.m. to secure one of the limited-edition cups. A viral TikTok video captured an altercation at a display featuring the cups, illustrating customers pushing and shoving to grab them, with one individual allegedly attempting to take a cup from a child’s hand.
Viewers of the video expressed dismay at the commotion over Stanley’s Wicked-themed cups. Comments highlighted the absurdity of the situation, with some reminiscing about similar past consumer crazes.
Stanley’s Wicked-themed cups have been selling swiftly at Target stores and are already sold out online. This incident is reminiscent of an earlier craze in January when Target released limited-edition Starbucks-themed Stanley cups, leading to lengthy lines and even altercations. At that time, resellers were selling the cups online for significantly inflated prices.
The recent buzz around Stanley cups follows previous criticism faced by the company concerning the presence of lead in their Tumbler insulated cups. Customers raised concerns over potential lead exposure, prompting Stanley to clarify that the lead is sealed within a stainless-steel cover, rendering it inaccessible to users.
