Son of a Gun--It's High Maintenance Bitch

If the sign wasn't clear before, people walking past the Wallingford storefront in Seattle now know that High Maintenance Bitch is a high end pet store.

So does the rest of the country --thanks to a story with million dollar legs.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer got over 185 comments on their story which focuses on the community's reaction to to the store sign. Evidently, the Chamber of Commerce received multiple complaints.

People were offended by (a) the word ,(b) the prominence of the word.(c) the entire concept of a high maintenance pet store.

In other words, if the sign were a tad more subtle in its use of the word "bitch," the complaints may not have been so numerous.

It seems the in you face nature of the sign is what got cockles rankled-- not the fact that the store sells feather boas for dogs.

The article shares that the store owners have big national plans -- they say they want the brand to be as well known as Victoria's Secret. They have plans for expansion.

Yet it was this sentiment that actually caught my attention.

The owner of the store, Lori Pacchiano says in the article that  "one of her goals is reclaiming the word "bitch" -- so that it only means female dog and not something derogatory toward women."

As a reference point, thank you wikipedia,  the  word bitch has been used as a derogatory slang word for a woman since the 1400's --so creating a brand that will take the derogatory out of the B word is something that I will monitor with great intent.

Given the noblesse of that mission and one that I wholeheartedly support ,I thought a quick check of their website was in order.

Maybe I was expecting a mission statement reclaiming the word bitch. Maybe I was expecting a blog that chastised musicians, public figures,and television shows that randomly called a woman  a bitch. Maybe I thought there would be something about  this campaign and how we could support it.

Instead, I found this:

At High Maintenance Bitch®, we believe in spoiling our pets and ourselves.  I hope you will think of new ways you can create energy and passion in your workplace and your life.
--HMB Co-Founder, Lori Pacchiano

WHOLESALE INQUIRIES:  CLICK HERE

 

 Image Credit:  Gilbert W. Arias/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Comments

[M. D.]

I'm torn between laughter and distaste.

Yes, it's funny. No, it's not in good taste.

Frankly, it says something about the owner. Surely, there are better alternatives.

Still, it is garnering attention. I suspect that was one of the goals.

Using a name like that may create a buzz for a time, but in reality, it's as if the owner is telling the world to get ****ed.

It may be funny now, but mostly likely the concept will become easily tarnished with time.