Nippy - Advertising Icon

Advertising Icon

By the 1920s it was already long established in the advertising world that an attractive female could sell products, and the tea business was no exception. Nippies appeared in all manner of advertising, on product packages, and on promotional items. The nippy soon became a national icon. Unlike other endorsements of the day, which often took the form of popular celebrities or cartoon characters, a nippy was contrastingly accessible and close to home. A nippy was someone who could be seen and interacted with every day, and perhaps this was part of the appeal of the concept. J. Lyons was very careful to maintain the nippy image as wholesome and proper—strict cleanliness standards for nippy uniforms were maintained, and prior to World War II J. Lyons would not hire married women as nippies. So popular was the image that miniature nippy outfits were popular for children dressing up for special events such as fetes.