E-commerce Start-Up Gives Customers STDs

TORONTO, August 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Nerdblock.com, an ecommerce subscription box start-up, will ship thousands of playful plush versions of chlamydia, crab louse, gonorrhea and syphilis, in a bid to raise awareness of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among its worldwide audience.

There are about 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases each year in the United States, and almost half of these are in people ages 15 to 24*. Nerdblock.com has partnered with leading science-themed toy maker, Giantmicrobes, Inc. to highlight the risks to its customers.

Nerd Block Founder Russ Montague said: "A lot of our members are under 25, the age group most at risk of contracting an STD. Utilizing the monthly Blocks we ship out, we felt there was a great opportunity to raise awareness among our customers regarding the health risks they might be facing.

"GIANTMicrobes® plush toys look cute and friendly, but because they come packaged with educational information about each microorganism they represent, we hope they will help us spread a more serious message, albeit in a light-hearted way."

Giantmicrobes, Inc. CEO Drew Oliver, said: "We are very excited to be involved in this awareness raising campaign, especially since we've had enormous success using GIANTMicrobes® to build awareness about important health concerns and initiatives in the past.

"If we encourage the Nerd Block audience of younger, science-minded members to take responsible precautions and protect themselves against STDs, then the campaign will be considered a great success."

Each month Nerd Block ships mystery boxes full of 'themed nerd gear' to its customers. Find out more at nerdblock.com .

Notes to editor:  

*According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/std/life-stages-populations/STDFact-Teens.htm

About NerdBlock.com:  

Nerd Block is a Toronto based monthly subscription service that provides a curated box of geek-themed collectibles to nerd enthusiasts. Since being founded in 2013, Nerd Block has amassed legions of worldwide subscribers and now offers four different subscription services: Nerd Block Classic, Nerd Block Jr. Boys, Nerd Block Jr. Girls, and Horror Block. Every month Nerd Block features movie, television and gaming-related product from leading studios including Disney, Cartoon Network and Nintendo. Nerd Block is widely recognized as being the only nerd subscription service to reliably deliver must-have collectibles including brands such as FUNKO, Mattel and McFarlane.  For more information, visit nerdblock.com .

About Giantmicrobes, Inc.:  

Founded in 2002 by Drew Oliver, a former editor of the Harvard Lampoon, Giantmicrobes, Inc. (http://www.giantmicrobes.com) is a fast-growing global brand which distributes its products throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.  Distribution channels include drug stores, bookstores, museums, science centers, hospital gift shops, educational catalogs, and general gift shops worldwide, as well as the company's website, http://www.giantmicrobes.com. GIANTmicrobes® are innovative, creative collectibles and gifts, and are also used by parents, teachers, and medical professionals as educational tools.  More than 10 million GIANTmicrobes® products have been sold to date.

SOURCE Nerdblock.com