Even in today's shaky, COVID-19-tinged economy, a little love from George Clooney goes a long way.
Last weekend, the actor revealed on "CBS Sunday Morning" that he's been cutting his own hair with a Flowbee for 25 years and counting. One week to the day later, Flowbee — a combination vacuum / hair clipper device that surfaced in the '80s — is scrambling to replenish its stock, which has sold out entirely, according to a new report from TMZ.
Flowbee Vice President Troy Hunts tells the outlet sales increased "tenfold" after George's shout-out last week. And that jump doesn't even account for the would-be customers who reportedly couldn't complete their orders, as the company's website was inundated with traffic.
According to TMZ, Flowbee is now in a holding pattern, thanks to what Hunts described as "the Clooney effect," which apparently came on the heels of an already strong sales year for the company, which grew more popular as salons and barbershops closed during the coronavirus pandemic.
At this point, Hunts said, it will be at least two to four weeks before Flowbee stock is back in action, stock-wise.
On "CBS Sunday Morning," George, 59, was asked how he was adjusting to some of the daily life changes brought about by the pandemic. Missing out on hair cuts was not an issue for the star, who said that he bought a Flowbee two-plus decades ago and never looked back.
"My hair is really like straw, so it's easy to cut. You can't really make too many mistakes," he said, adding that his haircuts "literally take two minutes."
A few days later, during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," George helpfully demonstrated the ins and outs of Flowbee usage as Jimmy tried one out on his own noggin.
"You put the buzzer on," George said, lifting a Flowbee to his salt and pepper hair. "And you go to town."
Hunts, by the way, also said Flowbee has never worked with George and had no idea he was such an avid Flowbee user.
After the "Clooney effect" sales spike, though, he pans to send a thank-you gift to the actor "that will likely include a few free Flowbees."
Seems like the least he could do.