Mid-January appears to be a good time to do many things. Bump your car (18 Jan being day of most traffic accidents in the UK). Be depressed (24 January coming up for that one - evidently the day of the year that is most ‘difficult’ for people).
Do your tax return (for the self-employed – I think that’s another one to avoid if you can). Beyond that, there’s braving the ‘really honestly end of the sales big savings now!’ sales.
Out and about today looking for some shoes for Dan. I think I was probably aware previously that part of the ‘buying a lifestyle‘ that affects our society today extends to the rest of the shopping experience. But today, as after Christmas when we looked round some clothes shops, I increasingly realised how much the music played in shops is part of the deal.
If you want to live in a ‘hood, you may find that Schuh is the place to buy your box-fresh trainers. I can’t quite remember what the outdoor shoe shops offered…which is perhaps the point. They could have played “I’m a lumberjack“, but then they would have to sell high heels, as the song goes, which would make it harder to climb mountains. (I’m sure they could get round that by discounting ski poles at the same time.)
So where did I feel more at home? Rogerson’s shoe shop, which sells Ecco and various other ranges. They played soundtracks. I didn’t have to look cool in front of the sales staff. In fact, Dan commented on the soundtracks, and was told they have three or four albums on rotation, including Norah Jones, Frank Sinatra, and a classical one.
This is the place where the music seems designed to make you go ‘ahh’, in the same way that you go ‘ahh’ when the shoes are comfy – and potentially a bit pricier than you might go for.
Whereas if you want to get something tight-fitting, and need to go ‘ow!’ at the same time, head for somewhere that plays Prince, perhaps. At least you’ll be following in his (high heeled) footsteps.