May. 20, 2007 08:37 PM
A look at some U.S. brands sold in communist-run Cuba:
Mickey Mouse Fire Truck battery operated toy
Where: Galeria Comercial, Comodoro Hotel, Havana
How much: 5.15 Cuban Convertible Pesos ($5.55)
Made In: China
Also available: Mickey Mouse plastic mirrors and combs; wrapping paper
with various Disney characters - all with Disney copyrights and logos
U.S. corporate: Disney Consumer Products, part of The Walt Disney
Company, Burbank, Calif.
And ... Fire trucks appear to have been shipped directly from China:
Each box is sealed with a yellow-and-red "Certificate of Qualification
(sic)," complete with Chinese characters and an inspector number.
Nike Air Force I sneakers
Where: Manzana Gomez shopping center, off Havana's Central Park
How much: 129.40 Cuban Convertible Pesos ($140)
Made in: China
Also available: Nike Max Air 180s
U.S. corporate: Nike Inc., Beaverton, Oregon.
And ... "Come back after the weekend and we'll have more," a salesman
said. "They are always bringing more Nikes."
Bausch & Lomb ReNu Plus "No Rub" Multi-use Solution for soft contact lens
Where: El Almendares Optician, along Obispo Boulevard on the fringe of
Old Havana
How much: 120-mililiter bottle for 15.50 Cuban Convertible Pesos ($16.75).
Made in: USA
Also available: Bausch & Lomb Simplus for gas permeable and hard contacts
U.S. corporate: Bausch & Lomb Inc., Rochester, New York
And ... Some stores sell samples of various Bausch & Lomb solutions that
are distributed in Mexico and read "Free" on the side, but sell for
12.25 CUC ($13.25).
Rubbermaid Water Cooler
Where: Galerias Cohiba, Melia Cohiba Hotel, Havana
How much: 148 Cuban Convertible Pesos ($160)
Made in: USA
U.S. corporate: Rubbermaid Home Products, Wooster, Ohio. Part of Newell
Rubbermaid Inc., Atlanta
And ... If there is a run on these circular, orange-and-white plastic
coolers, Cuba is ready. One store had no less than six in-stock.
http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0520biz-cuba0521box.html
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