I don't understand marketing

Or maybe I do a little too much.

I am, however, a huge sucker for packaging.  If you wrap something up a in cute little box or slap on a funny label, I'm all over it but anyway.....

A few months ago my girlfriend, Tina, was telling me about the trials and tribulations of buying her daughter's first make-up set.  The girl had reached the agreed upon age so off they went to Nordstrom to purchase some nice basics.  As any teenager would, she had a pretty good idea of what she wanted and Tina approved, going so far as to say, "wow, these are really nice colors."  Then she looked at the names of the colors and everything changed to an "absolutely not".

I think I stumbled upon that product line today.  I ran into Nordstrom because I needed some eye makeup remover.  I have this awesome mascara that is not so much waterproof as it is permanent.  Before I put it on, I make sure I've got a few things lined up for the next couple of days.  Hmmm, tonight is Girl's Night so I'll put on some mascara, it'll still be there tomorrow night so I'll see if John wants to go out to dinner and maybe we'll go downtown during the day, sure I'll have to scrap off some raccoon eyes in the mornings but I don't want to be wasted this perfectly good mascara just sitting around the house...You know how it is.

So I bellied up to the makeup bar and asked for my eye makeup remover.  It was sold out so while they were scrambling around looking for something comparable, I was checking out the lipstick.  That, by the way, is the extent of my makeup drawer.  Mascara and 3 lipsticks. I found a pretty one  pink one and held up the sample,

Me, "Can I get this too?"

Clerk, "What's the name?"

Me, "Well.... I don't have my glasses....." <handing it to the clerk>

Clerk, "Oh, yes, 'Sex Machine' this is very popular"

Me, "Of course, 'Sex Machine'. Not a day goes by without someone shouting that my way."

Clerk, "We seem to be out of that one...."

Me, "Bummer, how about this one?"  <handing her another one>

Clerk, "Cat Fight, another big seller."

Me, "Naturally, because while the Dudes are shouting 'Sex Machine', their Bitches are thinking 'Cat Fight'. " I'm beginning to figure out the naming process here.

Clerk, "Nope, that one is sold out too."

I ended up leaving with 'Scandal'.  It seemed fitting after the 'Cat Fight'.  And 'Sexual Healing' was just far too pale.

I really wanted to check out the Eye Shadow names but the kids were waiting in the car.  Maybe next time.