A cool thing about living in a small town is that small changes can be a big deal. Well, I think that's cool, but perhaps that's because none of the small changes have truly annoyed me yet. I suspect my day will come.
The latest small change in our bustling 'burb is the overnight addition of a baker's dozen of wavy flaggy things advertising all sorts of products and businesses, most of which have been around here longer than I have. Why would a long-established business in a town too small to have a Trader Joe's need new wavy flaggy things?
My best guess is a smooth talkin' Big City salesperson swooped into town awhile ago and convinced ten small business owners they desperately needed better on-street signage. And since the main corner in town is already occupied by a mildly energetic minimum wage earner twirling some cardboard for Little Caesar's, the best bang-for-your-advertising-buck is naturally a wavy flaggy thing.
(By the way, I just did a Google search and learned that these wavy flaggy things are officially called "Feather Flags" or "Swooper Flags" or "Feather Bow Flags" or "Swoopers" -- the last perhaps named after the sales tactic. So really, I don't believe calling them "wavy flaggy things" is adding any confusion and, in fact, might be clarifying. Nevertheless, here's a link with pictures.)
And so in less than 2 miles (I measured), there are now flags advertising a Barber Shop, Computer Repair (two separate businesses), Mexican Food, Smoke Shop, Beer & Wine, Car Wash, Pizza, and the mysterious yet universal Open. Two more miles out in the hinterlands, there are three more flags...all for one business... advertising Sale and Rentals. Honestly, I think that particular business's free, bright orange t-shirts sported by sweaty, yard working folks all over town have more impact.
Had only one or two businesses bought into this new marketing concept, I think the flags would have been more effective. One or two wavy flaggy things are unique, noticeable, break through the clutter. Thirteen wavy flaggy things in just a couple of miles? Eye catching, yes, but more for quantity and less for name recognition. So says the dusty old marketing guruess who hasn't had a career in a dozen years.
Of course, as it often happens with Internet surfing, my mind is now swooping with possibilities for Christmas gifts for friends and family. I know just the right person for a Day Spa wavy flaggy thing. And the Cocktails flag would be perfect for a certain someone, with the Shoes flag for his wife. I would love to get a particular person Fresh Meat; I wonder if he'd ever talk to me again? Woodhaven's driveway would be great fun were it festooned with Corn Dogs or Fireworks or Winery. Or, better yet, just the simple Today's Special -- what a nice thought!
So many wavy flaggy ideas!! And I bet, I just bet, I could get a great deal.
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