Wazzzuuuup? Improper sales ploy, mom says

Herald staff

STAMFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut woman’s e-mail complaint about boys’ T-shirts with a variation of a popular beer brewer’s slogan prompted J.C. Penney Co. Inc. to pull the shirts from the shelves of all of its stores.

Diane Samples, a New Fairfield mother of a 4-year-old boy, was shopping at the JCPenney store in Danbury about three weeks ago when she saw a shirt in the boys’ department bearing the word "Wazzzuuuup?"

The spelling of the popular expression was different from the "Whassup?!" advertising slogan for Budweiser beer and did not contain the beer brand’s logo. But Samples said it appeared that the shirt was designed to boost brand loyalty among youngsters.

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