Celebrate Hunter S. Thompson with us!

Discounts and Contest!!!


Last week I told you a little about our most famous TarGard user, Hunter S. Thompson and this week in celebration of him we are offering a discount and a chance to WIN a year's supply of TarGard cigarette filters!


TarGard is offering 30% off all of the Permanent Filter items because it was Hunter's favorite cigarette filter and he was rarely seen without one at the end of his cigarette.










“For one thing, it is not a holder. It is a filter. A big difference. A filter clears a full ounce of scum and tar a day, keeps it from ruining my lungs. The first time I used it, I saw what came out of a filter and I never stopped.” (Hunter S. Thompson, 2003 interview with Adam Bulger)



We also have a Hunter S. Thompson Look-Alike Contest where you could WIN A YEAR'S SUPPLY OF TARGARD!! If you think you look like Hunter Thompson or could dress up to look like him just upload your photo for your chance to WIN!


We are giving away a Year's Supply Of Targard to our top 3 photo submissions which will be voted on by you beginning November 17th.


To enter the contest and see all official rules click here.

As soon as we begin getting photos I will start a gallery on the blog so you can check them all out. Then on November 17th I will post them all onto the contest website so you can vote on your favorites.


We hope you celebrate Hunter S. Thompson with us!


Check back soon to see the photos.


To learn more about TarGard cigarette filters please visit www.targard.com

Our Most Famous TarGard user!

Here at TarGard we are getting ready to launch a great promotion for our TarGard Permanent Filter System which includes discounts and a look-a-like contest! Our promotion is based on one of our most loyal customers whom also happens to be our most famouse TarGard user, Hunter S. Thompson.

(photo of Hunter S. Thompson)

For those of you who might not know who Hunter Thompson is, here is a quick run down. Hunter was and is still known for his work as an author. He wrote in a very unique style called Gonzo Journalism, which is a style of reporting in which the reporter becomes so involved in the action of the writing that they actually become central figures of their stories.

Hunter wrote novels as well as several newspaper and magazine articles. He was most well known for his novel titled "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" which was later turned into a movie starring Johnny Depp. Another one of his books, "Where the Buffalo Roam", was also adapted to the big screen and a third book titled "The Rum Diary" is currently in production with a scheduled release in 2009.

Besides being an author, Hunter Thompson, was also an avid photographer and political activist. He was rarely photographed without his signature glasses or his TarGard filter.

(Hunter's signature look)

Our filter, the Permanent Filter System, was actually featured in the movie Fear and Loathing.

(photo of Johnny Depp from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas)

While doing some research for our campaign, I found this great conversation between Hunter Thompson and Johnny Depp discussing our filters after the filming of Fear and Loathing! Here it is -

Depp appears and apologizes for being late. Thompson searches for cigarettes. He holds up his filter. "Are you actually using these?" he asks Depp.

"I'm weaning myself off," says Depp.

"I don't see how anybody could possibly smoke without them, when you see the scum that piles up in there," says Thompson. He demonstrates the entirely gross buildup of liquid tar that has gathered from eight or ten cigarettes. "Three packs since I woke up," says Thompson. "Look at it this way: That's four times this that is not in my lungs."

"Wouldn't it be amazing," says Depp of the plastic filter, "if that's the one thing that's kept you alive?"

(This conversation was part of an article written by Chris Heath titled "Johnny Depp's Savage Journey". The article was featured in Rolling Stone in 1998.)

If you are a loyal user like Hunter Thompson and would like to share your TarGard story or have any comments please leave a comment here or e-mail me at khoxie@venturi-inc.com.

Thanks for checking in!

Check back soon for details about our upcoming promotion - great discounts and a chance to win a FREE year's supply of TarGard!!

To learn more about TarGard please visit http://www.targard.com/.

To learn more about Hunter S. Thompson please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_S._Thompson.

Speaking of TarGard History.....stories from people who have used TarGard for over 20 years!

As you already know, we love to talk about our cigarette filters, but what we love even more is to hear the stories that our loyal users share with us.

Today I am posting 3 stories from people who have each been using TarGard for over 20 years!

Our first story comes from Colette C. in Pueblo West, Colorado. Colette is 67 years young and is currently working full time as a professor. She has been a loyal customer of TarGard's for almost 25 years and has tried all four styles of cigarette filters we have, but enjoys the Amber Disposable filters most because "TarGard is the most comfortable and doesn't change the taste. In fact it enhances!"

Although her granddaughters, son and daughter-in-law would love to see Colette quit smoking, she vows to them that "As long as I do smoke, I'll keep using TarGard filters!"

Our second story is from Peggy G. who is almost 72 years old and has been using TarGard for 24 years! Peggy is from Ridgeway, Virginia who is musically gifted - she loves to sing and is a self taught autoharpist (no lessons!). She also is an avid song writer.

Peggy also loves her Amber Disposable cigarette filters because she feels that "TarGard is amazing with the amount of tar the filter takes out of a cigarette." She is also a great advocate for TarGard, she says "I tell everyone that smokes about TarGard and give them one to try. Thank you for making TarGard!"

Our third story is from Robert J. of Burlington, North Carolina. Robert is 56 years old and has been smoking with the Amber Disposable filters for just over 20 years. Robert shared with us why he started using the filters, "When I was employed in a no smoking environment, I over smoked, chain smoked. I started using the filters to lessen the side effects."

Robert wanted our readers to know that "The TarGard filter system is a great product for people who live active, but enjoys a clean smoke at the end of the day."

A huge thank you to Colette, Peggy and Robert for sharing their TarGard stories with us!

If you would like to share your story or have any questions you would like answered about TarGard please leave a comment or e-mail me at khoxie@venturi-inc.com.


Coming soon: Announcing Hunter Thompson Look-A-Like Contest and a chance to win a year's supply of TarGard filters!

To learn more about TarGard please visit www.targard.com

The Mysteries of TarGard Uncovered

At TarGard we are often asked questions like "Where is TarGard made?" or "How is TarGard made?" so today I am uncovering the mystery of the TarGard cigarette filter!

First, here's a few great facts about TarGard's history:

· TarGard was established in Burlingame, CA in 1963

· This year TarGard is 45 years old!

· The company has moved twice in it's history - once from CA to Grand Rapids, MI and then a second time from Grand Rapids to Traverse City, MI which is where we are currently located

· It is the only cigarette filter brand that offers 4 different styles of filters from disposable to reusable

· TarGard is the best selling cigarette filter system in the US drug store industry

- We have the best, most loyal customers!

Now on to the good stuff - A majority of TarGard parts and products are made in the United States and are actually assembled by right here in Traverse City by a company called Grand Traverse Industries (GTI)!

By assembled, I mean that the parts that make up our filters are shipped here to Traverse City and when they arrive Grand Traverse Industries takes those parts and puts them together. For example, they assemble the Permanent Filter System by joining the metal insert with the clear mouthpieces. They also run a machine that fuses the amber filters and white inserts together for the Disposable Amber Filters. And not only do they assemble all of the parts they also place them into their packaging and box them up in preparation for shipment.

This is the actual machine that fuses the amber filter mouthpieces to the white insert to make our most popular filter - the Disposable Amber Filters!


This is a container holding all of the filters made in one day which is about 15,000 filters!

Working with GTI is actually one of the best parts about working here at TarGard. To explain, GTI is not just another company that handles product assembly and packaging they have a very inspiring mission which is to provide employment, training support and services to persons with disabilities and/or other barriers to employment so that they may achieve their highest level of independence. GTI has a very inspirational mission and the most amazing staff of people! It is really an honor to work with them every day.



Here is Nancy, Don and Cindy from GTI hard at work putting the Disposable Amber Filters into packaging!


This is Mark, he operates the machine that seals the TarGard packaging together

That just about covers the history of TarGard and how they are made. Now I would love to hear about your history with TarGard! Do you remember the first time you bought TarGard? What made you try a cigarette filter? Please send me your stories - you can leave a comment or e-mail me at khoxie@venturi-inc.com.

Oh, and don't forget to vote for your favorite filter on the right hand sidebar!

Thanks for checking out the blog.

Kris, a TarGard Team Member and Loyal User

Coming up this week: Speaking of TarGard History.....stories from people who have used TarGard for over 20 years!

To learn more about GTI please visit them at www.grandtraverseindustries.com

To learn more about TarGard please visit www.targard.com