The president sells. At least, he used to. Prior to last year’s election, you couldn’t walk two feet without seeing the face of our future president on t-shirts, gazing towards the future in Shepard Fairey’s ubiquitous rendering, on mugs, looking concerned, even popping out of a box, as in Barack-in-a-box.
But now, after the glow of the first 100 days have worn off – and in its place have come debates over health care, climate change and the war in Afghanistan – some Obama-based entrepreneurs tell the Associated Press that sales of presidential merchandise have also waned.
Makers of Barack-in-a-box say that they could barely keep up with orders during the inauguration, but now, they have inventory sitting on shelves. Souvenir shops near the White House have also reported a slowdown.
But both entrepreneurs say they will continue to stock Obama memorabilia because having a token of a historic black presidency will never go out of style and the holiday season promises a sales bump. In short, they have hope.
Photo courtesy Chad Davis, via flickr.