Posted on 02/26/2009 6:05:22 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Home Economics of Anxious Times: Dyeing Your Hair in the Kitchen Sink
By Ylan Q. Mui
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 26, 2009; A01
The economic downturn is forcing America's households to learn a tough lesson: how to fend for themselves.
Sales of starter sewing kits have shot up by 30 percent at Wal-Mart as families forgo the tailor. Landscaping companies have suffered a 7 percent drop in revenue over the past year. Procter & Gamble said that it has noticed more questions from customers about how to dye their hair at home to match salon coloring.
The recession has had a powerful effect on the American state of mind. A Washington Post-ABC News poll released yesterday shows Americans have grown increasingly insecure about their finances since mid-September, as fears about making mortgage payments have spread and more believe the economy is in a long-term, serious decline.
These feelings have helped set off a change in behavior so pronounced marketers and businesses have coined a name for it. They call it "insourcing": doing yourself what you once gladly paid others to do.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Ping!
American women have colored their hair at home for years. This is not news.
As far as the writer knows only certain people of a certain class he wouldn’t know about the rest of us coloring our own hair. Doing our own nails, and actually giving our kids a home haircut now and then.
“Do I perceive the service that I’m getting as an added pampering, or do I need it?”
Perception IS reality these days; that much is true. I manage a garden center and every trade mag I’ve read in this past year has told me that every living thing in my sales yard this season needs to scream, “BUY ME!” or people won’t.
I believe it.
Sales, however, are up on seeds (14% over last year) and I know veggie plant sales will be through the roof this season.
I’m ready, and I’m making sure my staff are, too.
As for coloring my own hair? I’ve nearly always done it, except in the mid-80’s when I was married to a rather wealthy man who treated me like his pet poodle, LOL!
Hey, GG! How are sales by you so far this season?
Personally, I’m investing in a new hoe, shovel, rake, and lots of seeds....
I have always done my own hair and nails.
We have a rustic sign in our kitchen that says “Simplify.”
We have tried over the last several years to do that and honestly, our lives are better for it.
I just received my seed order from www.seedman.com yesterday!
But it fits the capitalism is dead meme.
At the same time the MSM ignores the government’s role in all this.
Non-news news keeps the meme running.
The Leading Lipstick Indicator
Anyone heard how sales of pricey lipstick are doing?
So have some American males....
Ah yes, Just for Men, and A Touch of Gray!
Uh... he took you to the vet for a sheering?
Hair is hair, does it matter? (Never colored mine, prefer the “distinguished” graying, and fear any chemicals might make what’s left fall out!)
Now, OTOH, that's bad for the businesses that supplies these goods and services, and that's probably going to affect the economy even more. I believe it will all level out eventually.
Does this mean that there are more "jobs" that Americans WILL do ?
/sarc
ping
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