When Lava Lite unveiled its Barack Obama Lava Lamp, it was positioned as a limited edition item for avid collectors of political memorabilia.
But before the company placed its first ad to promote the lamp, which goes for $39.99, press publicity made it a hot item that sold faster than the Chicago-based firm could produce them.
“I didn’t anticipate the kind of success we’re having,” says Larry Gutkin, Lava Lite CEO. “If I had, I’d be in stock right now and making a lot more money on it.”
On the eve of running full-page ads in several major daily newspapers last month, Gutkin reported his company was ramping up production, cutting more tools to make the lamps and adding shifts in its production facility.
“It’s a very detailed, hand-painted piece,” Gutkin explains. “It’s not a piece that lends itself to turning up production in a major way.”
Counting on a continuing wave of consumer interest, Lava Lite was finalizing deals to sell the lamp in retail outlets while it continues to sell it through its Web site at www.lavalite.com.
“I don’t think his popularity is going to just fizzle,” Gutkin says.
Lava Lite’s previous big sellers were music personalities, “mostly dead rock stars,” Gutkin says.
The personalities include Elvis Presley, Jimmi Hendrix and Bob Marley.
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