Cottonelle "Recharges" South by Southwest Conference-Goers

Brand offers refresh lounge that runs on social currency

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Mar 07, 2014, 07:00 ET

AUSTIN, March 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As thousands descend on Austin for this year's South by Southwest Interactive Conference, bath tissue maker Cottonelle will be on hand helping attendees stay clean and fresh as they take in the latest in tech trends. Recognizing a need for a place where people can go to freshen up onsite, Cottonelle is offering a unique "Refresh Lounge" and one-stop shop where weary registrants can go to relax, recharge and freshen up during their day. The TP maker will also "upgrade" select bathrooms onsite at SXSW by stocking stalls with Cottonelle toilet paper and flushable cleansing cloths so visitors can experience the clean and freshness of Cottonelle firsthand.

The "Cottonelle Refresh Lounge" provides a number of pampering services including massages, hair and makeup touch-ups, changing stalls, shoe shines, device charging stations, storage lockers and a refreshment bar. No cash will be exchanged; the lounge will instead ask for "social currency" (i.e., a social mention using #LetsTalkBums) in return for services. The innovative offer is befitting the brand, which offers a clean so fresh it can only be Cottonelle.

"We know that conference days are long and the ability to truly freshen up is limited," said Mike Haley, Cottonelle Marketing Director. "We also know that people may not want to talk about what happens in the bathroom but talking can go a long way in helping people learn about a better way to get clean, than with toilet paper alone."

Helping facilitate that conversation are a team of social influencers dubbed the "Cottonelle Correspondents" who will report live from the lounge, share photos and behind-the-scenes information to encourage their communities and SXSW registrants to join the conversation and become more comfortable talking about their bathroom habits. Correspondents include Jessica Shyba, Stephanie Wonderlin and Natania Barron.

The Cottonelle Refresh Lounge will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 511 East Cesar Chavez, today, March 7, through March 11. Join the conversation and follow along with the "Cottonelle Correspondents" on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #LetsTalkBums.

About Cottonelle Brand

The Cottonelle brand provides innovative comfort solutions for perineal personal care. Cottonelle toilet paper is available in three forms: Cottonelle Ultra ComfortCare, Cottonelle GentleCare and Cottonelle CleanCare. To help people feel cleaner and fresher than with toilet paper alone, the brand offers Cottonelle FreshCare flushable wipes and Cottonelle GentleCare flushable wipes enriched with Aloe & E. For the latest product information, visit www.cottonelle.com.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No.1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 142-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Kimberly-Clark