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Sign holders (2) Wed, Oct 29, 2008
I don't understand the practice of retail stores employing people to stand on street corners holding signs that advertise the store's sale and clearance events.  My confusion is twofold:  (1) Why can't stores use traditional advertising techniques, like, oh I don't know, real signs, and (2) what kind of person accepts a job opportunity that entails holding a sign? 

I realize that the purpose of the temporary signs is to advertise a temporary event, so a traditional permanent sign would be no good.  Then why don't they just hammer a stake into the ground and hang a sign on it?  Is there some law against that?  Don't people do the same thing when they have garage/yard sales?  The idea of hiring a person to stand there and hold a sign is just ridiculous. 

And as for the type of person that might accept that job opportunity, I realize not everyone has the same expectations from and qualifications for a job as I do.  Not everyone is interested in health insurance and a 401k, and not everyone has a clean legal record.  But still, it seems like there are about 100 jobs I would take before I even considered the idea of standing around and holding a sign.  That's just me. #business
Comments:
Jenn B Wed, Oct 29, 2008
My husband groans about how that would be one the THE worst jobs in history every time we pass one.  I have to admit though, I actually look at their signs probably 90% of the time (my eye being drawn to the movement & "what's that weirdo doing? oh it's a sign guy"), whereas signs stuck in the ground get pretty much no notice.  certainly no straining or double takes to see what it says anyway.
Wendy Thu, Nov 06, 2008
I think the sign holder people are trying to make cash any way they can. It could be about putting food on the table or paying their rent because their other job cut their hours. In that case, beggars can't be choosers. You have to take the jobs you can get. And we can't assume they don't want a job with a 401k & benefits. This could be the job they are using while they search for another job. I guess I'm an optimist.

But I totally agree with you on your first point - why can't we tape them to the traffic signals or stake them in the ground?
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