OT: N.J. College Student Auctions Body on EBay

[Guest guest]

Gal gonna be one helluva marketing executive some day. ;-) Butch

 

 

WAYNE, N.J. (AP) - A 21-year-old college business major living in this

northern New Jersey community has proven a basic lesson of marketing:

Sex sells. Courtney Van Dunk posted a bikini-clad picture of herself on

eBay about two weeks ago, auctioning off space on her body for advertisers.

 

The auction ended Thursday with a winning bid from a New Jersey wine

retailer offering $11,300 for a month's worth of advertising. Van Dunk,

though, says the offer has been retracted, but she's confident that

she's made contacts with enough companies to still earn some cash.

 

When she finds a buyer, Van Dunk plans to place temporary tattoos on her

abdomen while she's at the beach, or on other body parts when she's at

the mall, sporting events, amusement parks and other public places. Her

butt and chest are off limits.

 

" I got the idea from a marketing class I had that did a short segment on

body advertising, " Van Dunk said. " I was wondering how advertising could

get through to our TV-savvy generation, and I thought this would be an

excellent way to do it. "

 

 

Van Dunk says the first round of bidding drew inquiries from as far away

as Zambia. The Web site halted that auction because she had links to

other sites promoting her efforts, so Van Dunk then held a second

auction, which lasted seven days.

 

Van Dunk credits moderate exercise and healthy eating for the fit figure

that has earned worldwide interest.

 

" We never ate a lot of fast food or greasy things growing up. My mom is

an excellent cook. I really owe a lot to my parents for that, " Van Dunk

said.

 

 

05/19/05 20:28

 

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