Does That Bing Crosby Go With These Pumps?

This is kind of a summary of an article I read in Sunday Styles of last weeks NYTimes, thought it was very interesting and not something too many people think about:

H&M has been playing old 40s and 50s music in their stores for several reasons. First, it wants to play music that compliments the current trends of black and white tuxedos and couture-ish cocktail dresses. But, the store is remixing the songs to make them more upbeat and able to dance to, like you're in a club. Secondly, it wants to encourage “an upbeat and inviting shopping atmosphere,” says H&M spokeswoman, Lsa Sandberg. In the past, holiday music has only been used to motivate tired employees and get them into the holiday spirit, but recently, holiday tunes have been used to keep shoppers moving about the store. Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, the Gap and many more are also initiating modernized upbeat holiday songs, but Abercrombie and Fitch refuses to because the company thinks that there is already enough holiday music in the air and doesn't want to overdo it. A representitive at Crate and Barrel disagrees though, and claims that it puts people in the mood to shop. Incidentally, stores also keep in mind the kind of clientelle they have at certain times of the day. In the morning, it is unlikely that one will hear a remixed song at a store because older crowds tend to shop there, but after school gets out, the stores pump up the jams! More stores are also more concerned about selling lifestlyes, so the type of music they play, really is a big deal. I guess this means that I won't be able to hear Bob Rivers' "Osama Got Runover By a Reindeer" when I walk into Williams Sonoma in Westport, CT mid morning with my mother. Happy Holidays!

--Lauren Wettenstein