A new campaign begins: Vote for Stay in 2020
In the 1953 movie, “The Wild One,” a woman asks Marlon Brando’s character, “Johnny, what are you rebelling against?”
“Whattya got?” Johnny replies.
Last year, anticipating the 2020 election, we came out with “Vote for Stay” buttons. A customer asked me what Stay was running for. I so wanted to say, “Whattya got?,” but I’m not that fast on my feet. I think she quickly realized that it was a gag, anyway.
We are rebels, though, championing the cause of Made in the USA at a time when 97 percent of apparel sold in the United States is imported. We like to think that supporting American workers and American communities are things that all Americans can get behind.
We aren’t seeking elective office, but the vagabond lifestyle of a maker — popping up at a different location nearly every week — feels a little bit like running a political campaign. (A preferred comparison: that of a rock band on tour).
But in our case, a vote for Stay isn’t a singular act or opportunity. We hope customers will buy from us more than once (early and often!), but that’s not the only means of casting your lot with us: It also can take the form of following us on Instagram and Facebook; of signing up for our newsletter; of spreading a good word about us among friends and family.
Pittsburgh tee coming
We have high hopes for Stay in the year ahead, with plans to make regular visits to our hometown Hershey, as well as Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, State College. We’re also looking to add a new market or two while continuing to foster online sales.
On the new-product front, we’ll be rolling out our first Pittsburgh shirt in the spring, a unisex cut suitable for Pittsburgh dad and Pittsburgh mom alike.
At the beginning of 2019, we introduced our first women’s cut and children’s sizes featuring our Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and heart designs. At the end of the year, we added an extra small size in our unisex Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful design. All of our adult tees are available in at least small through XL, with many available in 2XL. If you’re looking for smaller or larger sizes, let us know (hello@stayapparel.com) as we could add those sizes on a case-by-case basis when we do reprints. (Anything 3XL or larger would be subject to a surcharge, however, reflecting the higher cost of those blank tees.)
We’re planning to add one or more retro tees this year, featuring cool brands of yesteryear to join our Flying Machine, Garvin’s, Helb’s Keystone Brewery and Herpak Franks designs. We recently teased one concept — Bear’s Department Store in York — with an Instagram story poll in which we asked followers to vote on the ink color.
Look for one or more designs featuring iconic Americana. We can’t be more specific than to note that the designs will be consistent with Stay’s commitment to being a brand of place.
The trailer for “The Wild One” described it as, “The story of a gang of hot-riding hot-heads who ride into, terrorize, and take over a town.”
Thank goodness you don’t have to settle for that where you live. You have a better choice.
Vote for Stay.