French Plumbers Embrace Nintendo Fame, Draw tourists & Copycats
Rennes, France โ – A plumbing company in Rennes,โค France, “Allo Mario,” โhas becomeโ a local attraction thanks to its playful branding referencing the iconic Nintendo character, Super Mario. Founded sixteen years ago by two childhood friends, Jรฉrรฉmy Bouffart and a partner, the company’s logo and van design-featuring a clear nod toโฃ the game-initially prompted legal consultation with Nintendo to ensure compliance.
“We are two childhood friends, and we wanted something that โขchallenges,” Bouffart explained.”So โwe played the game,being dressed in overalls and โred t-shirt. We are very recognized now in Rennes.”
The plumbers โคhave leaned intoโ the association,frequently enough fielding questions โfrom customers and passersby about othre characters from the Super Mario universe. “Some customersโ callโค only for that and end up saying us,smiling: ‘Ah! I was sure that youโ are not going to come in overalls and red T-shirt,you dared,it’s great,'” Bouffart โrecounted. “Others asked me whenโ I arrivedโ where Princess Peach was,others are looking for Toadโฆ Some put the music for youโ when you โare there,children take โคa picture of โขus while we work saying: ‘Hey! It isโ the real Mario.'”
The company’s distinctive vans have even attracted attention from asian tourist groups, โขwith one encounter lasting a โคfull hour for photographs. Despite the success, Allo Mario faces challengesโ including name and activity usurpation, and โขincreased vehicle insurance costs due to the visibility of their branding. Bouffart emphasizesโข the importance of quality workmanship: “You have to beโ a good craftsman when you have a logo like that.”
Meanwhile, another plumber, Mario Metz, โขreportedly deflects questions about his lackโข of a mustache by stating it “ages him,” and intentionally avoids leveraging the character association in hisโ professional life.โ Nintendo recently reported selling 3.5 โคmillion Switch consoles โคin its first โคfour days, breaking a sales โขrecord.