Joe The Plumber? Meet Chuck Todd’s Mom The Hot Tub Saleswoman. And she lives in a swing state, too.
On MSNBC this morning, Todd shared the following with his fellow Morning Joe regulars during a discussion of economy-inspired “fear on Main Street:”
TODD: My mother has a small business selling hot tubs. They haven’t sold one. They can’t sell any. Nobody is buying this stuff…
Which, I guess, qualifies as oversharing on Morning Joe, as Todd was razzed throughout the morning (Your Mama sells hot tubs-style).
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: I’m still processing Chuck Todd’s mother selling hot tubs.TODD: This is one of those middle-of-the-road luxury items. First thing to go. She is a small business owner. It is a real-world example, you guys. No mocking. My mother. My mother.
O’DONNELL: No. I am just processing this. It tells me something. I’m not sure what.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Images come into your mind. I know it …
Later in the morning, Time’s Jay Carney got into it:
CARNEY: I’m in an ice box. I need a hot tub…
O’DONNELL: Hey, we know just the place. Chuck…
TODD: Please.
O’DONNELL: It’s not going away, Chuck. It’s not going away.
TODD: It’s my mother…
Also joining the fun, by phone, was senior Obama adviser David Axelrod. Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle jokingly asked Axelrod if there was “any chance you and I coulld get a billion to buy the Cubs?”
Axelrod: I’m reserving that billion to revive the hot tub industry…
[Laughter all around]
TODD: They could use some stimulus down there. She lives in a swing district in the I-4 corridor, brother….
AXELROD: I heard before, Chuck, you were in the tank, but I didn’t realize what they meant by it.
Chuck: You are wrong that a hot tub is a middle of the road luxury item that nobody wants. You and your mom have to check out the health benefits and that fact that a hot tub is a NEED not a want for millions of Americans. Why don't you get the facts and spread the word about stress relief, arthritis & fibromyalgia relief, weight loss and diabetes lessening.? Not to mention relieving stiff muscles and having a family place to go now that families don't eat dinner together anymore. I've been in the hot tub business 32 years. I'd be glad to share my marketing tips with your mom. Hot tub evangelists live all over America. You should hear what my customers say after they purchase: "It's the best thing I've ever done for myself and my family. I wouldn't be without it." Our biggest service day ever was 9/11. We came in thinking that no one would call.
But people realized that when times are tough, they need the solace of their hot tubs! We sold 5 yesterday because people are choosing to spend on their health, their families, their quality of life. I'm waiting to hear from your mom.
Best wishes,
Alice Cunningham
Olympic Hot Tub Company
Seattle, Washington
Posted by Alice Cunningham on Tue 25 Nov 2008 at 01:23 PM
Chuck, Alice is right! What is your Mom trying to sell? If it's cheap, poor quality imports or the type of inferior products sold by Costco, Home Depot and many other big box stores, now wonder she is having difficulty. These spas are lucky to sell for the BOM! Infinity Spas, one of the largest suppliers of poor quality spas to these big box stores closed it's doors last month leaving thousands of un-knowing, un-educated spa enthusiasts without the parts needed to keep their disposable hot tub operating. We mfg. and sell the Worlds Only Atera AnyTemp Home Spas that can be used outdoors in any climate 365 days a year. The temperature range can be anywhere between 62F (cold plunge) for athletes rehab and 104F for all the benefits Alice has mentioned. When swimming pools are too hot or too cold to use (which is most of the time) a AnyTemp Spa is always the PERFECT TEMPERATURE and an Atera Spa is crafted with 100% North American components by Americans, AND business is not booming (for any industry) but thank God not a week goes by without making sales to those who recognize the long term benefits of a quality home health spa, especially one that is usefull 365 DAYS A YEAR! Have your Mom contact us at www.ateraspas.com and we'll show her a new great option for all!
Posted by Charles Reynolds on Wed 3 Dec 2008 at 10:46 PM
I would agree with everyone above, Many Spa Builders have features that make their spa different that any other spa in the marketplace. I see that Chuck above has a spa that Has a Chiller and a Heater in their spa, this makes the spa COLD OR HOT during the different seasons depending on what their customer prefers. This kind of product differentation makes all the difference in the world. If every spa out there gets hot, your mother is just another sheep in the pack. What does her product offer the consumer that another does not? This is why companies fail, they choose to build something that already exists, then they must persuade the consumer to buy based on price ONLY! This is a means to an end, the product gets cheaper and cheaper until no one wants a piece of junk!
Do yourself and your mother a favor and explain that if your in sales you need to be selling something that people want and for the RIGHT reasons.
Josh
Posted by Josh on Thu 4 Dec 2008 at 03:35 PM