Combination of Red, White and Blue Makes Green
By George Anderson
The majority of Americans support the war in Iraq and many are wearing their allegiance on their sleeves and elsewhere.
Retailers in Ottumwa, Iowa are finding that, even in uncertain economic times,
if its red, white and blue, it will sell.
Shawn Klunck, merchandise co-manager of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Ottumwa told KTVO 3 television news last week, “We’ve noticed anywhere between a 20% and a 50% increase in sales.”
Moderator’s Comment: Should retailers visually demonstrate
their support for troops in Iraq by having employees wear patriotic apparel
or accessories or by adding American symbols to a store’s interior and/or exterior?
Requiring employees to wear symbols could be touchy. A
large number of very patriotic people in the US are not in favor of our war
in Iraq.
Creating symbolic gestures, however, through flags, murals,
etc. is a completely different story. How a store is merchandised is entirely
up to the retailer. [George
Anderson – Moderator]