On my way to the stores

On Wednesday I drove to the Outer Banks to tour the five Nags Head Hammock stores. On the way out I expected to drive though heavy smoke from the forest fires that have been burning in the area for the last few weeks but was pleasantly surprised to only encounter a light smoke for a very few miles in the area just west of Columbia, NC. I had driven to Norfolk to attend a funeral the previous Thursday and experienced heavy smoke for about and hour of the 3 hour drive.

 

I truly like reading the billboard advertising as I am driving. I suspect that more people like doing this than will actually admit to it. Highway 64 East heading to the Outer Banks is a continuous stream of interesting billboards with Nags Head Hammocks leading the way. The advertising is entertaining, while still a bit sophisticated, unlike the ”Pedro” boards that line Hwy 95 for the famous South Carolina landmark. It was interesting, as I drove, a radio advertisement came on for Nags Head Hammocks featuring a couple of kids in the car singing “99 Nags Head billboards on the wall” and whining “are we there yet” as there parents drove them on vacation to the Outer Banks.

 

All of the stores were beautiful. The fresh, brightly colored paint and the open and airy atmosphere made me feel as if I were on vacation, just like the other tourist that were mulling about in the stores. I had to remind myself that I was actually working. It still excites me to see customers testing the comfort of each different item and comparing it to the last one from which they just hopped out. There was a lot of “testing” going on. (What a job!)

 

Jay Branch