daniel
Old Town East
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have you ever been anywhere in town where you got a strong sense that the people or products were just too damn cool and that maybe you weren't even wanted there?
Having a cool / hip environment is great, but when / where does it go too far?
One place I've heard of reports of, as well as felt that way myself is rag-o-rama.
what about you guys? what is it? can you quantify 'too cool'?
mightymighty
North Side
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Spice/Sugar is too 'cool' for me. I am not a decorative enough female to loiter in a place such as that (If you define young thin fashionistos as decorative).
Actually, since I am a 'weird' 'dork' I'm not cool enough to be in many places according to some folks who have told me so... I offset this by really not giving two poops who 'approves' of my attendance or not. I goes where I like!
Besides, what is cool is primarily defined by the crowd that attends the establishment, and really those folks are so shallow enough to shun your arse before knowing you, do you really want to go there in the first place?
mightymighty
North Side
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Cyclist is too cool for me :D
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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Go on a Tuesday Mighty, I bet you feel a lot different (about Spice...I think Sugar's turned the corner at this point)
Ltrgman
Columbus
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Cyclist wrote I have never had this problem. Just walk in like you own the place. Smile. Stand up straight.
+1
Other people actually respond to that as well. They'll almost move out of your way, letting you pass, when you're walking through a crowd. People can sense confidence. But then again I'm like a 6'8" black dude and built like a UFC fighter. So that always commands respect. :lol:
freshjon
Downtown | Short North
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I'm with you guys, Cool is about presence and confidence. Also, I tend to think real cool has an air of indifference that is uncalculated and real.
"Too cool" for me would mean an excessive effort has been put forth to be "cool", which actually isn't that cool at all. Weekend crowds anywhere on Park Street definitely have that trying too hard feeling for me.
th0m
Beechwold
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I read somewhere that people are really just too busy worrying about themselves, away. I mean, at some places I think I way too cool for this place, and others of course vice versa, but that fades pretty quickly and i go right back to worrying about relationships and things I want to get done or do.
enzo
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People places or things that seem too cool are missing LOVE--not a love based way to operate and that always sucks. What other people think of me is not my concern--if I want to go, I go----why would you want to limit yourself to the people or places to experience in this lifetime? Everyone follow the golden rule and it is all good!!!
daniel
Old Town East
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enzo wrote People places or things that seem too cool are missing LOVE--not a love based way to operate and that always sucks. What other people think of me is not my concern--if I want to go, I go----why would you want to limit yourself to the people or places to experience in this lifetime? Everyone follow the golden rule and it is all good!!!
that's more what i mean. Like you go into a place, and you get the vibe like the bored person running the store wishes they were stoned or sleeping and could care less if you were there.
It doesn't seem to happen as much with places that you deal with the owners, but even sometimes, it's just this lack of respect for you as a customer. . . or potential customer.
Rocknrolloutlaws
German Village
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Tigertree wrote I just feel like that at the sinks in spice's bathrooms.
+1
artbomb112
The Heights
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I'm a pretty confident person... and I can walk into a place like that.... but I also keep being friendly in my mind. I think too cool is being confident and not being friendly. Confidence with friendliness is called welcoming.
And yes... I can think of a ton of places that are too cool.
Rag-O-Rama is in there for sure.
Spice and Sugar I have only been to a few times... and neither did anyone offer to interact with me. I think that might be beyond cool.
I think there are other retail locations as well. Galleries as well. Maybe even restaurants.
I think sometimes people forget that being friendly to a stranger isn't a bad thing.
I would much rather go to an establishment where the people are friendly to me but sell items or food that seems above my modest lifestyle. It would make me want to go back. To have something nice served by nice people.
daniel
Old Town East
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artbomb112 wrote I would much rather go to an establishment where the people are friendly to me but sell items or food that seems above my modest lifestyle. It would make me want to go back. To have something nice served by nice people.
so, that's the other side of the coin from a planning / retail perspective.
I've never been into abercrombie, but the one time i went into the store, it was obvious that the people working there, the music, the clothes (maybe), the prices, were SUPPOSED to be too cool for me.
Many times, when people purchase a brand, they're buying their coolness or status. Is that helped by an aloof attitude? Is it helped by the 'cool' people working somewhere who ignore you because you're not as cool as they are.
I've thought, adam, that cool stuff + friendliness = a great combo.
I think the word i've been searching for in this whole thing, is pretension. genuine coolness, love, service, respect, etc are all great things. It's pretentiousness. . .
artbomb112
The Heights
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Oh yeah... there are tons of those places that are too good for anyone.
Record stores are often like this.
Clothing stores are often like this.
Galleries are often like this.
I remember working as a visual merchandiser at the Intimissimi store out at Easton.. and I was saying Hi to everyone that walked in (I was working creating a display for the front window) and every person would walk around the store... the girls in the store wouldn't say anything to them... and then they would come ask me if I could help.... when I said that I was just there to help with the display... they set the items down and left because they didn't want to talk to the bitchy girls running the store. (and on top of that.. the girls working there said that every 90lbs. girl that came in was too fat to wear the underwear... )(I thought to myself "How bitchy can you be?")
I think this attitude is a perfect example of how not to sell a product.....
Why would someone who already thinks of your product as awesome... would you want to be too "cool" to improve your image.
There is something to say for making good products.. and being friendly when selling them. It is why some companies last forever.. and others are flash in the pan.
Niceness is underrated.
artbomb112
The Heights
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I used to agree with the Northstar deal.. but after meeting with the owners and talking with them extensively... I have been able to see that they are just like everyone else.... and I like that about Northstar.
I think that people also have preconceptions about these things at time.
Like the idea of eat organic food = hippie.
Or being vegetarian = health nut.
I mean.. I guess these things are everywhere... but they come out with colors when talking about "cool"
freshjon
Downtown | Short North
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skreened wrote I've never been into abercrombie, but the one time i went into the store, it was obvious that the people working there, the music, the clothes (maybe), the prices, were SUPPOSED to be too cool for me.Many times, when people purchase a brand, they're buying their coolness or status. Is that helped by an aloof attitude? Is it helped by the 'cool' people working somewhere who ignore you because you're not as cool as they are.
I always felt the opposite about Abercrombie. I would rather barf on my own chest (caveat: while wearing a lobster bib) than support the brand, but when I've been in their stores there is always that robotic niceness rather than complete indifference.
Not to mention the staff (as long as you're in their little particular sales zone) attempts to try and make you feel as "cool" and "hip" as they obviously are for working at Abercrombie.
Wow, thinking about it makes me think of how they pump that cheap cologne smell outside the store. I better stop. Yack. Not cool.
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