Patriotic Sales on the Upswing

Sales and marketing of patriotic and anti-terrorism items fell dramatically from the peak that immediately followed Sept. 11. Now that Operation Iraqi Freedom has begun, sales will be strong for the foreseeable future, says UAB marketing professor Michael Bowers, Ph.D. "We are already starting to see more interest in products that touch sentiments of family and items that remind us of Americana. I expect sales of patriotic items to continue to rise as public opinion rises in support of our men and women in the military." Bowers adds that sales of anti-terrorism products also will continue on the upswing as the government reinforces warnings of terrorist reprisals for U.S. intervention in Iraq.