Who Thinks This Stuff Up?

I was at my local big box department store, picking up a few household items and toiletries, and I came across this:

Wow! A limited edition GIFT BOX for pantiliners! Is it just me, or is this a ridiculous idea? I mean, seriously... who exactly is the "gift" for? The consumer who purchases these absurdly packaged pantiliners? Because in all honesty, I think most women would consider that particular product a necessity and not a gift. I suppose perhaps the company intended the "gift box" to be a pretty, inconspicuous place in which to store the pantiliners. Now, that's a nice thought in theory. The reality, however, is that a bright pink box is kind of a dead giveaway. That particular shade of pink seems to be the color of choice for a large percentage of feminine care products. The box is also a loser in the practicality department, as it's a pain in the ass to pull the lid off a somewhat bulky box in order to fish out a pantiliner from inside. It's MUCH quicker and easier to just grab one out of the original packaging with the handy flap on top. Any woman with PMS will tell you that easier is better! Don't put unnecessary obstacles between us and the feminine protection items we seek from underneath the bathroom counter! 

Maybe the clever marketing department over at the Always company thought this would be a great box for the consumer to use to GIVE gifts in. After all, I first saw it in late fall, just as the holiday shopping season was kicking in. Yeah... give someone a gift in an atrociously pink box that absolutely SCREAMS "feminine products". That's a great idea... as long as you're giving it to someone you don't like very much, or a very good friend with a warped sense of humor. (Hmmm... perhaps I missed a golden opportunity there....)

Then again, maybe the Always marketing department was clever after all. I now have two of these delightfully ridiculous, atrociously pink "gift" boxes, though I don't keep my pantiliners in them. I don't know what to do with them... I hate them, but they make me laugh every time I look at them! And aside from the unfortunate color, they're a fairly sturdy and potentially useful box for a purpose other than pantiliner storage. Maybe I'll let them reside in the back of the closet for a while. Maybe one of my friends or relatives will get a gift in one. Think of the hours of fun they could have pondering whether that means I don't like them much or if I think they have a warped sense of humor and would appreciate the joke. I'll never tell!