Signs of the times.
Saturday, September 26th, 2009With traffic at a standstill, many New Yorkers were forced to walk around the city during the UN Assembly. Since much marketing in NYC is neighborhood oriented, one can learn a lot. At Origins store at 22nd and Fifth Avenue, a blackboard tells us that a free sampler is given away with a purchase of a moisturizer.
A restaurant/bar had a blackboard out saying, “Recession extender. Happy hour extended to 9 p.m.” A sandwich shop warned that “Winter is coming. Gain weight now. Buy a Sandwich.” More “for rent” signs were seen on windows. Some shops, which have not had occupants for a year or more, were being renovated for new tenants, always a positive sign.
Bloomberg News said Fifth Avenue rents were down, the worst in twenty years. Below 42nd Street, new discount stores and fast food operations have replaced higher end retail shops.