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Obama Kitsch: Retailers Sell Barack Around The Clock OBAMA MANIA O

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By RICHARD MULLINS

rmullins@tampatrib.com

Published: January 17, 2009

Updated: 01/17/2009 12:56 am

TAMPA - Where can you get a good Barack Obama-inspired ice cream? Or sneakers airbrushed with images of Obama rousing the nation forward?

Fear not, shopping nation. As Tuesday's inauguration nears, the American retail scene is overflowing with Obama-themed merchandise for every taste imaginable.

Before spending a day in office, the 44th president already has become a retail phenomenon, a repeatable, malleable, Technicolor brand icon unto himself.

American shoppers can pick virtually any product, and there's likely a version customized to honor the incoming president.

Take the new Obama O's cereal ($39 a box) or the Yes We Can Opener, which opens - you know - cans.

Armies of action figures are invading the market, as are stacks of cozy cotton blankets embroidered with Obama's likeness, bottles of O-Bam-A hot sauce, crates of Baracky Road ice cream, jigsaw puzzles, faux U.S. currency and jack-in-the-boxes that play "Hail to the Chief" before popping up the president-elect.

Defying current economics, the miscellany sells well.

St. Petersburg's own HSN is on the bandwagon and recently sold $3 million worth of Obama "Change" coins in three hours. Rival QVC will be selling Obama trinkets live from Washington during Inauguration Day.

The retail Web site Shop.com has devoted a special page to "Obama Style," with dresses like those worn by Obama daughters Sasha and Malia, and clothes the first family might wear for weekends at Camp David.

If that's not enough, aspiring politico artists are flooding Web sites that customize shoes and shirts. Zazzle.com has more than 900 versions of Obama shoes based on uploaded imagery. And CafePress.com has more than 315,000 Obama products on sale.

Keep an eye on singer Ashlee Simpson and you might spot her new baby wearing the "Barack-a-bye baby" onesie made by Seattle-based BarackBaby.com.

"I lost my job back in January and just tried this out, making Obama shirts," said Paul Proios, founder of BarackBaby.com.

Now, boutique baby stores across the West Coast stock his onesies. He's close to selling out of the "Barack-a-bye baby" version.

"I need to order more - fast," he said.

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919.

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