Retail marketing, by nature complex,
Marshals strategies—both art and science.
When unsold merchandise begins to vex
Our vendors, technology reliance
Moves inventory, turns stale and retro
Into profit, saves the day, clears the shelves.
They fudge a little, tinker, and presto
The merchandise’s remade, as if by elves.
It’s done with clever lighting, with food dye—
Similar to salon treatment, face lifts,
Tummy tucks, repackaging what’s awry.
Manager’s specials—steak almost a gift!
Chemically enhanced, a moral sin:
Juicy red without, decayed gray within.
(12/15/12)