Last summer OBX and this blog hosted a discussion of professionals and their fitting (but true) surnames (i.e. Dr. Footer, the podiatrist; B. Lawless, the lawyer; A--man, the proctologist -- okay, that last one was from Seinfeld, but you get the idea). Yesterday I was wondering about a fitting name for the Olney Ballet Theatre (OBT) Indoor Tag Sale at its newly purchased house on Georgia Avenue. Tag sale? What does that mean? Were tags for sale? Did people even know what the term Tag Sale meant? I thought people would but perhaps not. Despite boasting bargains of new and gently used items (including jewelry, housewares, toys, home decor, etc.), the OBT sale did not generate as much traffic as expected -- a steady and respectable flow, just not deal-seeking holiday crowds.
In anticipation of similar future OBT sales, I pondered (and then rejected) a few misnomers:
Rummage Sale: no, the name implies used items and castoffs only
White Elephant Sale: oy, the merchandise sounds even shabbier and more unwanted
Boutique: oops, now we're moving too far in the opposite direction, suggesting vendors and artists peddling pricey new wares
Bazaar or Flea Market: too expansive and we're not selling anything bizarre or with fleas
Estate Sale: too grandiose-sounding and fortunately we're not liquidating a deceased person's worldly goods
Moving Sale: OBT just moved into, not out of the house
Yard or Garage Sale: the merchandise is inside the house, which has no garage anyway
Indoor Yard Sale: Yes, this may be the winner! Although an oxymoron (who has a yard indoors, unless the person owns a stadium?), this term accurately describes the event -- a sale of new and gently used items, at yard sale prices, inside a house. Okay, next time we'll set out a few large items (bikes, furniture, etc.), come on in for bargains!
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