T-shirts, bumper stickers, tote bags, water bottles, and even underwear are all adorned with one name: Obama.
At a time when consumers are cutting back on almost all expenses, Barack 0bama-themed merchandise continues to sell well in the days leading up to next week’s inauguration ceremony in Washington.
“Pop culture plays a big role in what consumers buy, so the inauguration is having a similar effect the Olympics or a big sporting event would have,” said Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman for the Washington-based National Retail Federation. “Retailers who have the merchandise may see an upswing in sales.”
On cafepress.com, an online T-shirt customization store, the three most popular designs are Obama-themed. The first print is a smiling Obama with “01.20.09” — the inauguration date. The second is a cartoon Obama pulling open his shirt, a la Clark Kent, to reveal a blue and red shirt with “44” on his chest instead of an “S.” The third shows an Obama cartoon character kicking a cartoon President Bush in the backside.
“People have been buying election merchandise since the middle of last year,” Grannis said. “That should only increase until the inauguration, but it’ll likely dip as the year progresses.”
There’s even the “Barack Obama 2008 Classic Thong” for $9 on cafepress.com.
In Baltimore, the Up with Cupcakes apparel brand on Monday announced it would start selling a special edition T-shirt the celebrates “The Two Hottest Things in America: Cupcakes & Obama.”
Sandy Long, owner of Charm City Cupcakes in Baltimore, developed the idea for the T-shirt.
“These are two things at the center of my life: cupcakes and politics,” Long said in a statement. “Almost everything I read today is about the love of cupcakes or the love of Obama.”
Amy Sandbourne, spokeswoman for Up with Cupcakes, said the company expects the Obama T-shirt to be “one of the store’s best-sellers.” The shirts will be available at www.upwithcupcakes.com or at Charm City Cupcakes for $18 for a T-shirt or $22 for a long-sleeve version.
At Picture Graphics at Security Square Mall, shoppers have been scooping up Obama T-shirts, mouse pads and mugs, said store manager Rava Reshmi.
Obama is expected to stop in Baltimore on Saturday as he makes his way to Washington for next Tuesday’s inauguration.
