Calendar Girl Blog: Selling Nipples

You'd think, that I would have more retailers selling the Breast of Canada calendar in it's 5th year of publication than in it's first.

Sorry to tell you but you'd be thinking wrong.

I've gone from a few hundred outlets to a few.

The unspoken, but overriding reason for this decline can be blamed on nipples. The bulk of conventional retailer's are nipple sensitive. Despite the fact that the calendar is about breast health, and breast cancer is at record highs, stores do not want to offend you, the consumer. Apparently, nipples are offensive. Strangely, they will sell pornography...but that's another blog entry down the road.

I'm also not talking about ALL nipples. Men's nipples are available for public consumption on newsstand, beaches, sporting events, concerts, festivals, your neighbourhood and...well let's just say you can't swing a bat without coming in range of a man's nipple or two.

It's women's nipples that are the problem. And wouldn't yah know, silly me thought that a breast health calendar named Breast of Canada wouldn't be a breast health calendar without including the aureole.

I'm calm about this merchandising glitch thanks to the wonders of the web. Ten year's ago I would have been toast. Today, my website gives me access to customers around the world. Given I'm a marketing maven, my site sells the bulk of my print run.

Besides, I like having direct contact with my buyers...breast friends...patrons. It's more friendly. I hear more stories. And, I get my yah yah's off knowing something me and my team created is heading to kitchen walls far and wide.

Plus, I have a reputation as a overwhelming optimist when it comes to just about anything....I make a fine lemonade out any lemons that come my way. (My little secret...a splash of Grey Goose vodka.)

What does frustrates me is what retailers will sell. Check out the cover of any fashion magazine and tell me what the product is. Health? Self esteem? Positive body image? Diversity? Natural and normal?

I think not.

Calendar Girl did get a request for 60 calendars from Something Special, a bra store in Vernon B.C.. Before she gleefully packed the order, Calendar Girl second guessed the retailer, just to be on the safe side. The retailer held her ground. Not only will she sell the calendar, she will give some to her loyal customers.

Calendar Girls wishes more retailers had such courage.

Calendar Girl

Other Links and Blogs of mine. Maybe even of interest to you...or maybe not...
I'm just sayin.

Breast of Canada Calendar
Calendar Girl Blog
The Breast Views Blog
My Menopause Blog