granny big box?

yeah, that headline sounds kinda dirty, doesn't it? but it made you read further. oh, the power of a racy headline...

so in the midst of my daily npr-filled commute home the other day, i heard an interesting/disturbing story. read below:
http://www.marketplace.org/shows/2007/08/06/PM200708066.html

so, for those of you who are too lazy to click over and read the thing, here's the gist. a store just opened in germany that's basically a wal-mart for the over 60 crowd. they sell clothing, housewares, etc. that are geared for granny. they sell comfortable shoes (they mention velcro in the article...ew), practical clothing and gadgets such as talking alarm clocks that could prove helpful.

now, on the surface that seems like a good idea. one-stop-shopping is great. but i can guaran-damned-tee that none of the stuff in there is particularly cool or well designed. it's like clothes in, as rachel calls it, "the fat girl section" of department stores. there are a few racks of decent ensembles in a sea of sheets with arm holes. dowdy, boring clothing. and i'm sure it's nothing but SAS shoes all 'round. no, no, no. i still have no idea who decided that all "comfortable" or "practical" clothing for real people has to be ugly and poorly made. if anyone finds him- or herself in germany in the immediate future, check this place out, will ya? i will bet you $20 everything in there is both practical and god-awful.

great business idea here, dad. invest in fashionable clothing for the over 60 crowd. time to start thinking about my inheritance, old man.