We Feel Your Pain! Zippo Launches Virtual Support System for Owners of Lost Lighters

BRADFORD, Pa., April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the thousands of messages received from forlorn owners of lost Zippo lighters, the eponymous maker of iconic windproof lighters today announces the launch of www.ShareThePain.com. Through this new online community consumers can interact with the brand and share the sadness of having to live without their Zippo lighters. Losing a Zippo lighter is exceedingly common, and it takes an emotional toll. A recent survey by Zippo found that 68 percent of Zippo lighter owners in the United States have lost their lighter.

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"We've been receiving letters, calls and e-mails for decades from Zippo fans sharing their sadness at having lost a cherished lighter," said David Warfel, global marketing director, Zippo. "These run the gamut from matter-of-fact messages about a fisherman dropping his Zippo overboard to heartfelt notes from American war veterans whose military-issued Zippos disappeared during combat."

For many, Zippos are more than just lighters; they are treasured gifts, mementos, keepsakes and symbols of American history. ShareThePain.com will serve as a virtual support system for owners of lost Zippo lighters, where they can share their pain with Jax McFlame, the ultimate Zippo man and all-American tough guy, receive his words of wisdom and start the healing process. There's almost nothing in the world that can rattle Jax, but losing his Zippo lighter is one thing he cannot stand. ShareThePain.com will also act as a forum to promote stories of 'found' Zippo lighters.

"Not every story has a sad ending," Warfel added. "A great 'found Zippo' story that stands out comes from a former New York State fish and game protector. He relayed the tale of a fishing party that caught an 18-pound Pike, dressed the fish and found a Zippo lighter in its stomach. Even after being swallowed by a fish, the lighter was in excellent shape and lit on the first try. This is just one of the thousands of stories from devoted Zippo fans who have had to deal with the pain of losing a lighter, or in this case the joy of finding one that was lost by a previous owner."

The Zippo survey shows that the average American spends 54,180 minutes, or 903 hours, of his or her life searching for lost belongings[1], with 84.2 percent of respondents noting that they would either "panic" or "swear/curse" if they lost a valued item. Of the respondents who owned and then lost a Zippo lighter, nearly 20 percent noted that they were "devastated" upon realizing their lighter was lost.

The U.S.'s top 5 most commonly lost items are:

1. Pen
2. Money
3. Lighter
4. Car keys
5. Jewelry

Notes to editors
The Zippo study into lost items was conducted in January 2014 amongst 11,117 people across 10 countries and three continents. 1,030 Americans were surveyed as part of the study.

About Zippo
One of the most recognized brands in the world, Zippo was founded in the fall of 1932 by George G. Blaisdell in Bradford, PA, where it has manufactured over 500 million windproof lighters. With the exception of improvements to the flint wheel and modifications in case finishes, the product remains unchanged and is backed by the company's famous lifetime guarantee – "It works, or we fix it free.™" Zippo's diverse product line includes lighter accessories; butane candle lighters; watches, fragrance, and lifestyle accessories for men; and a robust line of heat and flame products for outdoor enthusiasts.  Zippo markets in over 160 countries and also owns the Ronson brand of lighters and fuel and W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Company, both based in Bradford, PA.  For more information, visit Zippo.com.

[1]Calculated on the average U.S. lifespan of 78.7 years, CDC 2011

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7161251-zippo-launches-online-community-for-owners-of-lost-lighters-sharethepain

SOURCE Zippo Manufacturing Company