What do George W. Bush, John Kerry, Ayatollah Khomeini, and Muammar al-Qaddafi have in common?
Their photographs have all been printed on rolls of bathroom tissue by JustToiletPaper.com, a wholesaler and e-commerce retailer of novelty bathroom tissue.
“We just filled an order for four rolls of George Bush,” said founder Marc Polish. “He must have done something stupid.”
The Margate, NJ company is strictly non-partisan. Osama Bin Laden, the Starr Report and the Congressional Bank also have been immortalized on rolls of toilet paper.
Polish also offers non-political bathroom tissue. Rolls are decorated with ducks, bunnies and paw prints as well as flowers, balloons and lucky charms. Some rolls have such holiday themes as hearts for Valentine's Day or pumpkins for Halloween.
However, the firm's core product is monogrammed bathroom tissue. “It's a home décor item,” Polish explained. “If you have a nice place, people are impressed when they see your initials on your toilet paper.”
Customers can order monogrammed bathroom tissue either directly on the Web site (www.justtoiletpaper.com) or through such upscale catalogs as Ballard's or Potpourri. And they can request custom designs.
There are some things Polish won't print on toilet paper. In some cases, it's a legal question. He won't print team logos because of trademark laws and licensing agreements. It other cases, it's a matter of taste.
In addition to rolls of bathroom tissue, JustToiletPaper offers mini travel packs and “Sheet Music by Toidy Tunes,” which one places inside the tube. It plays music every time the roll is pulled.
Custom toilet paper could be considered a novelty item, but Polish pointed out that customized or plain, it's something everyone uses. Whatever its price, “you get your money out the back end,” he said.
