Turning "Sucks" into Sales.

Oh how I'm reminded daily...and every Christmas season...why I'm so in love with this city. Flat sales got you down? Don't get bummed, get ballsy! What a brilliant tactic to move merchandise when sales are in a slump: one of the merchants in the heavily congested Times Square Area has decided to keep it real with the "Business SUCKS Sale". And as a result, it doesn't suck to be them.

That's me on the left pointing to their "sucky" signage...and on the right you can see where they've had the following tagline etched on their window: "The Most Photographed Sale In The World."

I asked if sales were in a slump and they just grinned like the cat that ate the canary. Well done boys...way to turn a weakness into a strength sale.

Comments

[Tim Jackson]

I wear a size 12, narrow, boot. Looking for something urban western.

That is a great sale technique. It looks honest, but smells smart. Not bad at all...

[Gavin Heaton]

Hey that looks like Armano's jacket in the background!

[gianandrea facchini]

armano, no armani!!

[Lewis Green]

I walked by this store on my last visit to MOMA, and was equally impressed. However, not enough to buy anything. Tell the truth, CK. What did you get? Good stuff?

The sign is great and does it job, by the way, by capturing our interests. Sales is the real measuring stick, however.

[David Reich]

Well, I guess that's one way to get attention with cheap signage in a venue of multi-million dollar signs. Like Lewis said, sales is the real measuring stick. But if their sign can make a passerby laugh and draw them inside, decent merchandise and prices coupled with an engaging salesperson might just make a sale... especially to those out-of-towners who think they're getting a bargain. Hey, wanna buy a bridge in Brooklyn?

[CK]

Thanks all. Lewis, I didn't buy anything in the store. Mainly because it's a men's store (and I wear women's clothes :-). But even when I'm buying gifts for my Dad I'm leery of getting clothes for him...I'm one to get him a funny mug, a book or a great DVD.

But the store was packed amid a slew of competing stores and the salesmen were dressed to a "T".

So it seems the "sucky" promotion is drawing them in and getting them some coverage. It was just so funny and got me to spend 10 minutes there that I otherwise would not have...even made it to my blog!

[Cam Beck]

"I asked if sales were in a slump and they just grinned like the cat that ate the canary."

I heart New York.

[Marianne Richmond]

I will add this to my list of things I miss about NYC....In DC last week, I missed the vendors that always appear to sell umbrellas when it rains.(was that last week?)
Marianne