Souvenir Sales: Prepare To Stand In Line!
The commercial success of the Olympics depends heavily on souvenirs, and you'll find plenty of them for sale in Sydney.
And as Olympic Specialist Bruce Lindsay reports, if they awarded Olympic medals for standing in a line, shoppers in Sydney could go for the gold.
"I JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT'S IN THERE."
And they're not even waiting to see athletes.
That's right. They're standing in line for the privilege of---
going shopping--to buy an Olympic souvenir
You're one up on them,
if you want to be,
because you can find a lot of the same stuff, with no lines, in the Olympic Spirit stores in Salt Lake.
There's a decent Sydney selection, and
tons of trinkets for 2002.
The SLOC licenses its trademarks to be used on merchandise,
in exchange for a percentage of sales.
So we have
2002's official mascots
sweatshirts
and water bottles,
pencils,
patches and
plenty of pins.
"WE HAVE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PRODUCTS TODAY WHICH HAVE AN OLYMPIC TIE-IN."
Including ties,
towels and
T-shirts all touting 2002.
Other essentials,
like refrigerator magnets,
playing cards,
golf balls,
earrings,
spoons
and socks.
Mitt Romney, SLOC President: "AND WE USE ALL OF THESE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN GENERATE REVENUE SO THAT WE CAN HOST THESE GAMES FOR THE ATHLETES WITHOUT HAVING TO CALL ON PUBLIC FUNDS."
Get your salt and pepper set,
Christmas ornament,
thimbles,
2002 flag, or
official shot glass.
"IN TOTAL, OUR PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THESE KINDS OF PRODUCTS WILL EXCEED $35-MILLION. AND THAT'S WHAT OUR SHARE OF THAT IS."
With the higher end stuff, you'll find the stadium blanket,
attaché case,
and Norwegian knit sweater.
"ULTIMATELY, THE NUMBER FOR PRODUCTS SOLD WILL BE WELL OVER A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS.))
Sales are building.
And, when Sydney's over,
Salt Lake merchandise could be really hot.
Lionel Kipp/Olympic Spirit Store: "I BELIEVE THAT THIS YEAR FOR CHRISTMAS, WE'LL JUST GO BALLISTIC. AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THAT WAY UNTIL THE GAMES COME."
If that's the case, my advice is
"Shop early."
Don't let the standing in line experience happen to you!
