NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2009
The Business Of Selling Barack Obama
CBS Evening News: For Memorabilia Dealers, Obama Is A One-Man Stimulus Package
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Play CBS Video Video The Business Of Barack If you can put his picture on it, you can sell it. As Anthony Mason reports, selling merchandise featuring President-elect Obama is good business, giving a boost to Washington's economy.
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Commemorative piggy banks, medallions and other inauguration memorabilia are just some of the Obama-themed merchandise (pic2009.org)
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Photo Essay Inauguration Memorabilia A wide range of merchandise commemorates Inauguration Day and the Obama presidency.
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Special Report Inauguration '09 CBS News coverage of the inaugural of the 44th President of the United States
Never mind the recession. The business of Obama is booming, CBS News business correspondent Anthony Mason reports.
"We even sell an Obama dollar bill now that has his picture on it for $10. So even his money's more valuable," said Jim Warlick, owner of the Washington, D.C., store Political Americana.
By some estimates, the Obama industry is worth at least a quarter of a billion dollars.
QVC expects 200,000 customers will have purchased Obama items by the end of Inauguration Day.
"This is our button room where we've produced 10 million buttons over the past two years," said Steve Swallow, CEO of Tiger Eye Design.
In Greensville, Ohio, Tiger Eye Design makes more than 1,000 different Obama buttons.
"This is the largest effect that any candidate has ever had," Swallow said.
The button room there operates around the clock, seven days a week. Two years ago, Tiger Eye was a $2 million a year company. Today, in the era of Mr. Obama, they do more than 10 times that in business.
"We've gone from 20 full time employees to over 60," Swallow said.
In New York, Jason Feinberg, a former school teacher, was loading up 15,000 Obama action figures to take to the inauguration.
He's already sold 150,000.
"I've made over a million dollars," he said.
When Marvel Comics released a Spiderman-Obama comic last week, "the line stretched down the street at a New York comic store. The 'Spidey Meets the President' issue sold out in hours," according to Patrick Andrade of the "New York Times."
To memorabilia dealers, the president-elect is better than a superhero - he's a one-man economic stimulus package.
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Add a Comment See all 86 Comments
- I%u2019m glad Obama has taken office today and I%u2019m looking for new change in this country just like everyone else and lord knows we need this badly. The only issue I have with this whole thing is if we are going to do this let%u2019s do it right and be politically correct. Obama is not the first afraican american president. He is of mixed race and to call him that is very disrespectful to his mother who is white. And to label him afraican american is disrespectful to both races. I have a black father and a white mother and I don%u2019t want to be labeled simply black or white I am mixed just like Obama. Those who wish to label him black you are just fooling yourselves. So Obama is an american MIXED President and people like us have the best of both worlds. The Media needs to correct this..
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- Hacker1001
Many will not hear your words because they fall on deaf ears. Many are caught up in this promise of a new deal. Instead of asking God for His blessings and promises, they want this "man" instead and his promises. He has promised many. Isn''t he wonderful, the whole world is clamouring and look how good he looks. Let''s also look to his wife to set our fashion trends! How mindless! And they say we are blind to follow after a God you cannot see. Aw, but we do see Him. For those who want to see, it is clear. For those who can see the truth and hear the truth, we know what is coming. We don''t have to sit back and say we''ll see what happens when it comes to God. His word has already done that and this world only proves it more and more. Everyone is taking their side now and many feel that it is popular to jump on the Obama bandwagon and turn their backs on God. But He knew this and is just weeding them out. I often wondered how God could accomplish such a task but it appears so simple really. - Reply to this comment
- Quote from Barack Obama''''s book, Dreams Of My Father:
"The person who made me proudest of all, though, was [half brother] Roy .. He converted to Islam"
From The Audacity Of Hope, "We are no longer just a Christian nation," "We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers."
From The Audacity Of Hope, "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."
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Posted by Hacker1001 at 08:06 AM : Jan 20, 2009
Now thats down right scary!!!!! - Reply to this comment
- Check out the shiny gold suiTt on the doll in this story. If Obama does''nt think that is offensive and approves of bieng made an Idol then he should be. The doll looks like a PIMP.
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- Big deal you went to combat. So did 1 million other joes. So did I, four times and spent 21 years in the Army. Getr off your high horse and quit crying because I expect Obama to follow through on his promises.
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- No YOU are attacking, belittling and simply trying the best you can to tear down any support and excitement for this man BEFORE he even has a chance. READ your post for crying out loud!! I wore the uniform of a United States Marine into combat. The man who had my back was a Black Man from Chicago. That man saved my life more times than I care to count. He is NOW just a name on that wall in Washington and I found out later a MUSLIM! Sieg Heil!!
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Posted by irmcvet971 at 07:28 AM : Jan 20, 2009
Where in any post have I attacked Obama. I simply stated that I would believe him when he follows through on his promises. I do not blindly follow anyone that makes promises. Unlike some people in this forum. - Reply to this comment
- But my post is true. Promises are empty words until they are accopmplished. I will believe in Obama if he comes through on his promises. Just like I expected from every persident that I have voted for since 1980.
Posted by wvu74621 at 07:25 AM : Jan 20, 2009
No YOU are attacking, belittling and simply trying the best you can to tear down any support and excitement for this man BEFORE he even has a chance. READ your post for crying out loud!! I wore the uniform of a United States Marine into combat. The man who had my back was a Black Man from Chicago. That man saved my life more times than I care to count. He is NOW just a name on that wall in Washington and I found out later a MUSLIM! Sieg Heil!! - Reply to this comment
- Why don''''t you look up the word Facist in the dictionary, and you will see that by your posts the definition will fit you above all others.
Posted by wvu74621 at 07:23 AM : Jan 20, 2009
I''ll do you ONE better swastika breath! Let''s take the LEGAL meaning of the Word as written into GERMAN Law to an INDEPENDENT Political Science Professional along with some of your "Hate them because they refuse to agree with the Party" post and IF he doesn''t agree with me that YOU are practicing FASCISM I''ll stop and give you an APOLOGY!! SIEG HEIL - Reply to this comment
- But my post is true. Promises are empty words until they are accopmplished. I will believe in Obama if he comes through on his promises. Just like I expected from every persident that I have voted for since 1980.
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- So tell us, if Barak Obama was a Conservative Christian black man would you still be celebrating this day for black people?
Yes or no
Posted by Truthin2009 at 07:19 AM : Jan 20, 2009
Of COURSE I would... so would the rest of the nation. We supported Bush didn''t we? I believe Bush had what 90% support after the attack on this nation. It wasn''t my fault or the fault of anyone else that he was SO INCOMPETENT that he could NOT govern. God were do you people come from! Honestly! What god awful place that must be... to be SO scared and SO hate filled... it must be TERRIBLE! - Reply to this comment
- Why don''t you look up the word Facist in the dictionary, and you will see that by your posts the definition will fit you above all others.
- Reply to this comment
- Man, that makes a lot of sense! Duh
Posted by wvu74621 at 07:17 AM : Jan 20, 2009
You don''t think the VAST majority of this nation is NOT going to be glued to their TV Sets in a few hours? Me thinks you are suffering badly from that classic Fascist Problem... Denial! - Reply to this comment
- irmcvet971
So tell us, if Barak Obama was a Conservative Christian black man would you still be celebrating this day for black people?
Yes or no - Reply to this comment
- Mr. Obama, do not forget, Promises are just empty words unti they become accomplishments.
Posted by wvu74621 at 07:16 AM : Jan 20, 2009
Do you want to know where YOU and YOUR ideas will be in FIVE years? Right where those before you are... in the dust of HISTORY! - Reply to this comment
- irmcvet971
Why don''''t you try knocking off your slanderous ridicule and insults towards people who don''''t think like you and answer a simple yes or no question?
Dude you are psychotic. - Reply to this comment
- Why don''''t you try knocking off your slanderous ridicule and insults towards people who don''''t think like you and answer a simple yes or no question?
Dude you are psychotic.
Posted by Truthin2009 at 07:14 AM : Jan 20, 2009
What did I say that was slanderous swastika breath. COME ON! GIVE me an example because I can defend EVERY thing I post with FACT! Now why don''t you go rub that Confederate Flag Pin like a good member of the Reich! Sieg Heil Y''all. - Reply to this comment
- I do NOT think many of Obama''''s supporters would follow a Religious Cultist off to drink Kool Aid! Now some of you in the Religious Reich?? OH YEAH! But not to worry. In a few hours you losers will have this ALL to yourselves... you can whine and *** about ALL your hate Targets as taught in the Nazi Youth Camps. Sieg Heil!
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Posted by irmcvet971 at 07:16 AM : Jan 20, 2009
Man, that makes a lot of sense! Duh - Reply to this comment
- Mr. Obama, do not forget, Promises are just empty words unti they become accomplishments.
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- Hey Truth. Just amazed at all the Obama kool-aid drinkers in here. I for one am of the wait and see variety. Promises are just empty words unti they become accomplishments.
Posted by wvu74621 at 07:11 AM : Jan 20, 2009
I do NOT think many of Obama''s supporters would follow a Religious Cultist off to drink Kool Aid! Now some of you in the Religious Reich?? OH YEAH! But not to worry. In a few hours you losers will have this ALL to yourselves... you can whine and *** about ALL your hate Targets as taught in the Nazi Youth Camps. Sieg Heil! - Reply to this comment
- irmcvet971
Why don''t you try knocking off your slanderous ridicule and insults towards people who don''t think like you and answer a simple yes or no question?
Dude you are psychotic. - Reply to this comment
