rbgarr
07-11-2007, 09:44 AM
Richard Thorne grins as he waves his hand under a toilet paper dispenser in a women's restroom. The machine spits five sheets of tissue into his grasp. A year in the works, the electronic tissue dispenser is being rolled out to the masses by Kimberly-Clark Professional as it seeks to capture more of the $1 billion away-from-home toilet paper market. The company believes most people will be satisfied with five sheets - and use 20 percent less toilet paper.
"Most people will take the amount given," says Thorne. Waxing philosophical, he adds, "People generally in life will take what you give them."
Kimberly-Clark turned to focus groups and years of internal research to determine just how much is right.
Americans typically use twice as much toilet paper as Europeans - as much as an arm's length each pull, Thorne says. The company decided the best length is about 20 inches - or precisely five standard toilet paper squares, though the machine can also be adjusted to churn out 16 inches or 24 inches, depending on the demand.
"Most people will take the amount given," says Thorne. Waxing philosophical, he adds, "People generally in life will take what you give them."
Kimberly-Clark turned to focus groups and years of internal research to determine just how much is right.
Americans typically use twice as much toilet paper as Europeans - as much as an arm's length each pull, Thorne says. The company decided the best length is about 20 inches - or precisely five standard toilet paper squares, though the machine can also be adjusted to churn out 16 inches or 24 inches, depending on the demand.