Signage Sport

Anyone driving around town can't miss the plentiful signs along roads hawking handyman services, sports classes, high school shows and more. Although I’ve posted signs only a few times, I quickly learned that signage placement is a competitive sport.

For example, one time I dodged Georgia Avenue traffic to reach the center island, waded through waist-high weeds and endured winds whipped up by cars whooshing by in order to place my sign in the perfect place ... only to find three other signs already planted in the prized, most visible spot. Another time when I actually claimed prime real estate by a traffic light intersection (where drivers can't help but read signs even if they don't want to), the next day I drove back there only to see that four more signs sprouted up around of my sign, blocking it from view! 

No matter where a lucky marketer sticks his or her sign, nothing can beat the most eye-catching sign. Of all the signs I’ve seen so far, I think this is the winner.

Who could miss this neon pink sign with adorable white eyeballs peeking over it?  I remember where I was (the Georgia Avenue-Route 108 intersection traffic light) and what the sign was for (a yard sale). I even looked at it long enough to read the time and place. Now that’s what I call eye-catching advertising!

What's in a Name? Part III

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!