I have been noticing for the past few months on the NY Subways that there are lots of kids selling candy. In the old days they would walk on with this spiel about how they needed money for uniforms for their basketball team or for some school trip. Now the new pitch is " My name is Jamal (or something), I am here selling candy. I am not seeling for my baskeyball team or for a school trip. I am selling candy so I can have some money in my pocket and stay out of trouble. Unfortunatly I only have peanut m&ms and Skittles. Would anyone like to buy some cnady?".
I find this pitch refreshinly honest. I rarely eat candy, or buy from them, but an appeal to good 'ole American capitalism and its ability to keep our cities a bit safer seems to work.
I have seen this done mostly by black males, but some black females too. Generally I see one or two people per train buy them. This is the same amount I saw when it was the seller announced that this sale was going for some noble cause.
Honest pitches generate trust. There is nothing more honest than admiting that you just want to make money. There is no reason not to trust the seller. I bet they don't loose money.
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So there must be some kind of organization that gives the kids the candy at wholesale so they can make a profit? I like the idea. Something about entreprenurial kids is really wonderful-I always buy at lemonade stands even though I know it's going to be watery and I'll be giving them a buck instead of the quarter they ask for. :)
Where do you live that there are lemonade stands?
What, they don't do that in America?? I'm in back-ass-wards Canada. Even in big cities kids sell lemonade in their neighborhoods.
I saw a lemonade stand once on Nantucket island. They were also selling hemp jewelry. I know they exist, but I thought that they only exist in the same way that other whimsical rites of childhood exist: in the movies.
I have to agree with Joclyn. I never thought lemonade stands existed outside Peanuts cartoons. But then again, until about 2 years ago, I thought Rodeos were also things that only existed in movies.
Oh man, where have you guys been? C'mon up to the great white north-you'll find ample rodeos and lemonade stands. I agree, lemonade stands are sort of whimsical and maybe childish. But Canada's a little retarded.
Sorry it took me a little while to respond; I don't think Karl has EVER agreed with anything I've said! whee!
Canada isn't retarded; it's just cold I thought.
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