Mr. Bubble is a brand

Brand

The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...

 of bath products made by The Village Company. The brand is currently the #1 brand of bath products according to AC Nielsen Data. The brand's slogan is "Makes Getting Clean Almost as Much Fun as Getting Dirty!". In 2011 Mr. Bubble celebrated its 50th birthday.

History

Mr. Bubble was invented by Harold Schafer

Harold Schafer

Harold Schafer was a North Dakota businessman who founded the Gold Seal Company, the original maker of Mr. Bubble bubble bath...

 and the Gold Seal Company in North Dakota

North Dakota

North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....

, USA, in 1961. It was originally mass-manufactured by Playtex Products, Inc., until the brand was purchased by Ascendia Brands, Inc., in 2005.

In August 2008, Ascendia Brands, Inc. filed for bankruptcy. The Village Company LLC, a supplier of brand-name bath, shower, and personal care products in Chaska, Minnesota

Chaska, Minnesota

As of 2005, there were 22,467 people and 8,194 households residing in the city. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 6,235 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per square mile...

, purchased the Mr. Bubble Brand from Ascendia Brands in October 2008. A purchase price was not disclosed.

In March 2009, a new Mr. Bubble Foam Soap was introduced, available in both Original and Extra Gentle varieties. In 2010, Mr. Bubble Moisturizing Hand Soap was introduced, and in 2011, Mr. Bubble Body Wash was introduced. In addition, the bubble bath products have been reformulated to be "tear-free", "dermatologist tested"," "hypo-allergenic", and "pediatrician tested".

In 2011 the brand celebrated its 50th birthday with the launch of a new character design.

Mr. Bubble is distinct from but frequently confused with Mr. Bubbles

Mr. Bubbles

Mr. Bubbles is one of several brand names that have been used by an entity variously known as Chemtoy, Tootsietoy, and StromBecKer for its bubble-blowing solution. The company is currently owned by J. Lloyd International and markets under Tootsietoy. J. Lloyd International also owns the rights to...

, a solution for blowing bubbles which is a product of Tootsietoy/Chemtoy/Strombecker Corp.

Current products

16 ounce Liquid Bubble Bath:

• Original Bubble
• Extra Gentle

36 ounce Liquid Bubble Bath:

• Original Bubble
• Extra Gentle

Foam Soap

• Original Bubble
• Extra Gentle

Moisturizing Hand Soap

• Original Bubble
• Extra Gentle

Body Wash

• Original Bubble
• Extra Gentle

Ingredients

Original Liquid Bubble Bath:

• Purified Water (vehicle)
• Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate (foamer, lime soap dispersant)
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate (foamer, lime soap dispersant)
• Cocoamide MEA (foam stabilizer, liquid thickener)
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (moisturizer)
• Hydroxyethylcellulose (liquid thickener, foam stabilizer)
• Fragrance (esthetic, masking)
• DMDM Hydantoin
• Tetrasodium EDTA (preservative, mfg. aid)
• Citric Acid (esthetic, dispensing aid)
• Red 33 (esthetic, dispensing aid)

The powdered version, which was introduced in 1961 and replaced by the liquid in the late 1970s, is based on sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate. Circa 1970 the powdered version had its phosphate removed and its total surfactant reduced, with modified starch

Modified starch

Modified starch, also called starch derivatives, are prepared by physically, enzymatically, or chemically treating native starch, thereby changing the properties of the starch. Modified starches are used in practically all starch applications, such as in food products as a thickening agent,...

 added as a diluent, and fragrance and (temporarily) coloring added. For a time the powder included a taurate-based surfactant.

Appearances in other media

• In an episode of Family Guy
  Family Guy
  Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
  
  , the Griffin family is being cursed with the plagues. This includes the tub water being blood, to which Stewie Griffin
  Stewie Griffin
  Stewie Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. Once obsessed with world domination and matricide, Stewie is the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin, and the brother of Chris and Meg....
  
   comments, "How positively delightful! It is as if someone has stabbed Mr. Bubble!"
• Eddie Murphy
  Eddie Murphy
  Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
  
   mentions it on his 1983 TV stand up show Eddie Murphy Delirious
  Eddie Murphy Delirious
  Delirious is a stand-up comedy television special starring Eddie Murphy. The 70-minute show, released in 1983, showcases his most racy material. The word "fuck" is used a total of 230 times, and "shit" is used 171 times. It was recorded on August 17, 1983 at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.....
  
  .
• It is also mentioned in the 1987 film Gold Through the Fire.

External links

• Official Website of Mr. Bubble
• The Village Company LLC, maker of Mr. Bubble
• Mr. Bubble Facebook Page
• Article: Mr. Bubble Moves to Minnesota
• HAPPI Magazine: Mr. Bubble Gets a Makeover & Celebrates 50 Years
• Classic Mr. Bubble commercial http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=PmUnqrZI4qE