"Brilliant!" I concluded in amusement-tinged approval; in imaginary theatre, I rose in ovation.
I'm a doctor of spin, a marketer to the core, and if you're in business, I can't help myself: I'm always thinking how you can do better! When I stumble across an ad campaign, an innovation or an idea bedazzled in clever or smarts or poignance or fun, I tip my hat (and probably mentally pen a letter of congratulations and/or suggestions to the Creative behind the initiative).
Occasionally, however, I'm just dumbfounded (like now). Somehow, some way, Fossil has managed simultaneously to capture my admiration and earn my ridicule. If you haven't seen it, allow me to introduce you to Fossil Finds (or as I like to call it):
Repurposing meets haute couture.
Sweet mercy, I cannot. Believe. PEOPLE ARE BUYING THIS STUFF!
Seriously, it is now someone's job to scavenge yard sales and sift thrift stores to bring shoppers the latest and greatest…
old, used clothes (and stuff).
And for this honor, shoppers have to plunk down upwards of $54 for something that probably cost Fossil 54 cents!
It's not that I'm against garage sale finds or thrift store bonanzas–that's bonafide TREASURE HUNTING! My daughter just scored three dresses, two scarves, a couple of shirts and pants, and a darling pea coat for $70! What amuses me most is the sense of urgency created with Fossil's product descriptions–
"We only have one for sale." (That's because you found it at a yard sale and typically PEOPLE DON'T BUY A DOZEN OF THE SAME SHIRT IN A RANGE OF SIZES!)
"Available for a limited time only." (Until you determine the gullibility meter of your customers.)
"This unique item is being sold "as-is" with no warranty. It cannot be returned. Sale is final." (Interesting…once customers get it home and realize they could've gotten the same thing on Saturday morning for 75 cents, THEY'LL WANT TO RETURN IT SO THEY CAN BUY 75 OF 'EM DOWN THE STREET!)
In store, I've only seen clothing and accessories; I felt like I time traveled to the Partridge Family or Brady Bunch set. I'm pretty sure I owned the Gunne Sax dress and empire waist top I saw, too. Online there's more diversity–radios, a cool luggage set (if your name or initials happen to be "A.O.W.N."), a ceramic owl. Can someone please holla "OUR TRASH IS YOUR TREASURE, SUCKA!!"???
I am a fan of traditional Fossil style but I wonder how well this newish "line" is selling. Either way I think there's something you should know about me:
I'm the best kind of friend you could ask for; I'm the one who'll tell you you're naked!
My parents always taught me that one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. And where we fall on the continuum is largely a function of personal perspective.
So when “vintage” became the haute couture buzzword of the past decade, I was able to happily observe it from the sidelines, confident that I had the words within my brain to tell the colorful stories that would inevitably emerge.
BTW, that plaid shirt screams “Canadian” to me, for some reason. I’ve got a few in the cupboard that’ll need to come out now that the temps drop below freezing as I walk the dog at night. However we choose to define it – vintage, fossilized or just plain old junk – nothing keeps me warmer and comfier than that!
You dress down and undress a farce in exquisitely blistering way fashion. Wow Robin.
And you traveled to the Partridge Family set – oh what a simultaneous crush I had on Laurie Partride – and her mom. I got crushes as early as 5.
And Robin, please, if you ever see or read or hear of me being stupid – please be delicate – but not too delicate because I’m a man and don’t understand delicate sometimes. Maybe just something like “compassionate correction”.
I have hearted everything on Pensieve that I’ve ever read.
OH GOODNESS. You are so right. So much of that looks like something I could find at a local yard sale, I’d never pay that much for those things. (Shoot, I don’t even like to pay full price for new things.) And yeah, these kinds of things might be cool if you’re looking for accessories to complete your 1950’s themed kitchen, but come on.. those prices are crazy. For example, the apothecary jars weren’t so bad, they didn’t look like junk. But I’m pretty sure I can find some faux vintage jars for a lot less. ; ) Maybe Fossil is just feeling the hit of the economy? Maybe that’s it. =p
To be perfectly honest, I AM naked.
Ok, that owl statue is nuts. $100?!?!
But…several years ago fossil put out a scarf that I fell in love with. I bought it for my sister-in-law and to this day I wish I had bought one for myself! It had ribbons running through it and look sooo shabby chic! But I think that’s the only thing I have ever bought from the store.