Comments on: Why did Durex set up shop in Knutsford?

Question: Why did Durex set up shop in Knutsford?

Kattullus — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:36:04 -0800

Yesterday I noticed something on the back of a condom wrapper, namely the address of the International Head Office of Durex: Canute Court, Toft Road Knutsford, Cheshire What I want to know is how did a condom manufacturer end up in Knutsford. Was it by chance or did they choose to set up shop there because of the name?

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:37:31 -0800

Hmmm... the formatting was off. The address is:

Canute Court, Toft Road
Knutsford, Cheshire.

By: frogan

frogan — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:59:13 -0800

Durex company history

By: saraswati

saraswati — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:59:45 -0800

If they were looking for something intentionally funny there's much better options.

For example: Intercourse, PA

By: growabrain

growabrain — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 23:15:50 -0800

Or fucking, austria

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 23:17:20 -0800

frogan: Nothing about Knutsford

saraswati & growabrain: If they wanted to go all out they could have moved over the Channel to France and put their headquarters in Condom.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 23:35:45 -0800

Most of these would be fitting.

By: i_am_joe's_spleen

i_am_joe's_spleen — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 00:44:04 -0800

This doesn't answer your question exactly, but Canute is the modern English equivalent of Knut.

Interestingly, Knutsford doesn't appear hereanywhere, so you could be on to something.

By: teg

teg — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 01:33:57 -0800

What's the expiry date on that wrapper? This 2004 article says they "pulled out of" Knutsford.

By: A189Nut

A189Nut — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 02:04:46 -0800

Do Nuts mean balls in the UK?

By: benzo8

benzo8 — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 02:24:23 -0800

"So, where shall we set up our Internation Headquarters?"
"How about Knutsford - that's sure to give some college kids a laugh."
"Good idea!"

(The above is fictitious and possibly not how it happened at all...)

By: XiBe

XiBe — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 04:17:32 -0800

Best option : Condom, France.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 04:51:57 -0800

Most of these would be fitting.

They're too tight for me, sorry.

By: salmacis

salmacis — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 05:43:44 -0800

Sorry, I don't understand the question. What's so special/unusual about Knutsford?

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 05:56:30 -0800

Do Nuts mean balls in the UK?

yep

By: voidcontext

voidcontext — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 06:56:20 -0800

salamacis: Knutsford could be read as equivalent to Sementown. Sorry.

By: kindall

kindall — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 08:22:57 -0800

This is bollocks.

By: DrtyBlvd

DrtyBlvd — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 12:10:30 -0800

As a fine upstanding Knutsford resident, I feel strongly about our towns performance in the sexual arena.

Durex coming to town, and indeed, their residency, provided much mirth and merriment to all - more so because the actual offices are tiny.

The climax of their occupation and subsequent elopement to that slut of an office whore location, Trafford Park (and *everyone* knows what went on there, don't they *nudge-nudge-wink-wink-say-no-more*) meant that Knutsfords' loss was of course, Trafford Parks gain - but Knutsford has such a nicer class of people don't you know?

Besides, Beckham et al are only 15 minutes away in Alderley Edge, and Wilmslow being the haunt of many a Pussy Posse meant that surely their sales must have been pricked somewhat. arf arf. (Oh, and a *Fnarr Fnarr* while I'm at it)

Seriously - they bailed when the rent went through the roof compared to TP's new developments; growing in size was most likely a factor as well. They did originally have two locations, the larger being at Toft Hall - a large stately type building that has had a chequered past rental wise due to its' size and cost - As to *why* they were there in the first place, Seton-Scholl (footwear stuff) merged with SSL Int. (Durex) and they all lived happily in Knutsford, taking Seton Scholls offices...

By: i_cola

i_cola — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 12:57:39 -0800

Knutsford Scabby Women

To most people in the UK, Knutsford is known for having a service station* on the M6** (as referenced in the link).

* rest stop
** M6=Motorway=Freeway. Like I-80.

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 15:05:10 -0800

Thanks DrtyBlvd! I was half expecting no one to have the answer, but there it is! Thanks a million for sating my idle curiosity.

Teg: Thanks for the article. I laughed like a person possessed at the sentence "[Durex] has pulled out of its plush offices in Knutsford." Something about the word "plush" just sent me over the edge. And the condoms expire in June 2009 (and no, I didn't just know that off the top of my head, I went and checked :) )