To mark the “retirement” of its Dandelion shade, Crayloa created a website and several good-bye videos.
“Not Dandelion!”
That was the reaction from many consumers last week, after Crayola announced it would soon retire the bright yellow hue to its “Crayola Hall of Fame.”
The cheerful shade has been in Crayola boxes for almost three decades, but this isn’t the first time the company has phased out colors. Indeed, eight shades were removed in 1990 and four were retired in 2003 — both times, new shades replaced the old colors.
The company’s announcement, which came a day earlier than expected (perhaps due to a packaging mishap), drew some remorse on social media. On the company’s Facebook page, one devotee wrote, “I’ll tell you where I want Dandelion to go. Right back in the dang box where it belongs!!” (That same post drew tens of thousands of “crying face” reactions, the Facebook emoji representing sadness.) New York magazine even ran a column detailing how die-hard fans could stock up on the color.
Society of American Florists Chairman Shirley Lyons, AAF, PFCI of — wait for it — Dandelions Flowers and Gifts in Eugene, Oregon, took a more philosophical approach.
“We at Dandelions Flowers are so proud that Crayola is ‘blowing’ the color dandelion with a puff and a smile into the Hall of Fame,” laughed Lyons. “So worthy of the honor as the universal color of happiness, childhood and whimsy. We will miss you, dear friend in the box, but know you have earned a well-deserved place of honor and we carry on your name with pride.”
