Selling Energy: The Story of Geritol and Tired Blood

Selling Cures

Welcome back to "Selling Cures," the podcast where we uncover the most captivating stories from the world of healthcare marketing and public relations. In today's episode, we journey back to the 1950s to explore the meteoric rise and contentious legacy of Geritol and its infamous "Tired Blood" campaign.
How did a simple iron tonic become a household name and generate millions of sales while also facing one of the largest fines in advertising history? Join us as we delve into the clever and often misleading marketing tactics that shaped consumer perceptions, influenced regulatory practices, and changed the landscape of health advertising forever. Buckle up—this is a story you won't want to miss. Stay tuned!
Timestamps:
00:00 Geritol: Energizing but unnecessary and potentially unsafe.
03:27 Geritol fined for misleading advertising on iron.
06:34 Geritol's influence on advertising and ethics explored.
3 Fun-Facts:
1. Invention of "Tired Blood": Geritol's marketers created the term "tired blood" to describe general fatigue, even though it wasn't a medical diagnosis.
2. Catchy Slogan: One of Geritol's famous ad lines was "My wife, I think I'll keep her," implying that taking Geritol could make someone a more energetic and desirable spouse.
3. FTC Fine: In 1965, Geritol was fined $812,000 by the Federal Trade Commission for misleading advertising, a landmark case in advertising history.

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