Desperate Retailers (And Consumers)
Nov. 28th, 2006 10:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fiat_knoxIt's the most wonderful time of the year. At least for me.
I've noticed how retailers are increasingly trying to separate the fluff: the Santas, the glitter, the tinsel, the reindeer, the ho ho ho - from the real business at hand: the rampant consumerism, the money flowing into the tills like water. Prices go up for the top goods, and supplies of same go down, ensuring that the queues for those "must-have" goods will be frantic, violent and lucrative.
All of that glitter's just a mask. And neither the glitter nor the consumerism means a damn thing.
As for me, I sorted out my Christmas list over the past two months. The gifts have been waiting to be put under the tree, safe and sound.
And just before the close of trading on the last shopping day, I go down into the town and watch as all the little ants run - not walk - in and out of the shops, like the desperate, starving wasps trying to extract the very last ounce of nectar from the dying autumn flowers.
The panic in their eyes.
Exquisite.
You can't buy fear like that. Any other time, you have to wait for an earthquake to see it. At least this is reliable and predictable.
I've noticed how retailers are increasingly trying to separate the fluff: the Santas, the glitter, the tinsel, the reindeer, the ho ho ho - from the real business at hand: the rampant consumerism, the money flowing into the tills like water. Prices go up for the top goods, and supplies of same go down, ensuring that the queues for those "must-have" goods will be frantic, violent and lucrative.
All of that glitter's just a mask. And neither the glitter nor the consumerism means a damn thing.
As for me, I sorted out my Christmas list over the past two months. The gifts have been waiting to be put under the tree, safe and sound.
And just before the close of trading on the last shopping day, I go down into the town and watch as all the little ants run - not walk - in and out of the shops, like the desperate, starving wasps trying to extract the very last ounce of nectar from the dying autumn flowers.
The panic in their eyes.
Exquisite.
You can't buy fear like that. Any other time, you have to wait for an earthquake to see it. At least this is reliable and predictable.
