We Like This Sign

We got a chuckle when we saw this sign in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood, and we simply had to stop and snap a photo.

There's certainly something in the way this sign is worded that conjures up some interesting imagery in our minds. We couldn't help but imagine what "shortening pants" would look like. Would they be similar to "margarine khakis"? Or "butter capris"? Or "cream cheese underpants"?

Although we might recommend that the wording be changed (we would prefer "Pants Hemmed" or "Pants Shortened"), there's a lot to like about this sign:

1. The price point is great. $4.99 to shorten a pair of pants is one heck of a deal.

2. The font, although haphazard, is large and noticeable and it follows Rule #1 of billboard advertising: "Make It Readable".

3. Sure, it's hand-written sloppily and it's rusty, but it tells you exactly what's probably inside: a down-to-earth, simple, local business.

In our age of high-tech, super-targeted, digitally-motivated advertising choices, sometimes a good old-fashioned sign does the trick. Even if it's written using a Sharpie that's two letters away from running out of ink.

Photo credit Joe Middleton 2018