New York Daily Photo Analytics

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Opportunity

Lightning and opportunity both strike quickly in New York, a land of opportunity. And there is no opportunity like a sudden unexpected downpour. Umbrella salespeople appear instantly from nowhere and setup quickly, because a rainstorm is an unknown opportunity.
They appear with umbrellas that most consider disposable and justifiable for the day's journey. A captive audience has few options. For those who did not prepare, you pay a few dollars or get soaked. The more unexpected the rain, the better the business. In the streets of New York, sympathy is not part of the vendor's trade.
Now I understand that in business you need to keep your costs down, but isn't it bad marketing for an umbrella salesman to peddle umbrellas while using such a badly damaged one? After all, this is the primary complaint and impression of umbrellas sold on the street - that they are virtually useless and break immediately. After a rainstorm, many mangled ones can be seen discarded on the streets.
A fellow onlooker and I thought the scene was hysterical. But the unfortunate and unprepared bought umbrellas anyway, because in a land of opportunity, at opportune moments, the opportunists win ...

9 comments:

Terry at Blue Kitchen said...

We tend to consider umbrellas at least semi-disposable. We keep a half dozen or so by the front door. When one dies, we toss it, knowing it will soon be replaced by one we buy during a sudden downpour, usually at a drugstore. Here in Chicago, whenever it rains, the Walgreens all put mobile umbrella displays right by the front door. And once in New York, when the skies unexpectedly opened up, we popped into a Duane Reade in Midtown, where they had intelligently done the same thing.

Wayne said...

'I never buy umbrellas 'cause there's always one around...' -Tom Waits from Strange Weather

I'd rather buy the poncho myself.

Nice shot Brian.

Anonymous said...

Wow what a storm. I guess this is why Laguardia airport was such a nightmare on Monday. Geez!

Brian Dubé said...

I have always purchased golf umbrellas. They are really rugged and I have never had one break. Worth the investment.

Unknown said...

It allways stops raining when I decide to take an umbrella with me! Said that I know I should love them, but I hate those objects :-)
Nice post!
Greetings

An Honest Man said...

Always carry an umbrella - never get rained on. If you believe that, you'll believe anything.

Anonymous said...

This shot made me laugh, on my last visit to New York the heavens opened and like you said people appeared from no where selling umbrella's...Unfortunaly for me the person in front of me decided to buy the last 6 and by the time i'd found another stall i was drenched !!!

Thérèse said...

Was he really selling umbrellas or was it an excellent marketing piece for selling ponchos???

Lo said...

This is a really nice photo! I like it a lot!

/Gothenburg daily photo