I remember shopping at K-Mart when my kids were much younger and hearing the blue (green/red) light special announced over the loud speaker. My ears would perk up with anticipation of what section it would be in and then the race was on to get there before everything was taken. Aah, what memories! ******************************************************************

Mar 28, 2001 - 12:32 PM

Kmart Revives the Blue-Light Special The Associated Press

TROY, Mich. (AP) - Attention, Kmart shoppers: The blue-light special is back. During a blue-light special, customers would hear an announcement of a particular item on sale, and a flashing police-style light would go off in the aisles. Those shoppers who reached the product in time got it on sale.

The idea was created in 1965 and retired in the 1990s as a symbol of the past.

But the current management team sees potential in playing off the company's heritage at a time when Kmart Corp. has fallen behind Target and Wal-Mart.

"It is something that is still deeply ingrained in America's culture and can serve as a point of differentiation for Kmart," said Michael Exstein, retail analyst for Credit Suisse First Boston in New York.

AP-ES-03-28-01 1232EST © Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

Answers

Response to GEN-K-Mart Revives The Blue-Light Speacial

Just noticed, special on header was spelt wrong. Sorry.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

I fixed it, which is why the header will show in bold on every post now, drat!

Anyway, I'm not sure if this is such a good idea. Nowadays, you're gonna get trampled in the rush and be fighting over the Martha Stewart valances on the blue-light special!

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

OG, thanks for the fix on spelling. Martha Stewart's things on blue light special, would be worth the mad run. Sales are what keeps the blood flowing, at least in this old women's heart.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

The one and only blue light special I ever heard was on, toilet paper!

LOL

And of course we, being a group of five, all went there and got some o them big packs of rolls.

The neighborhood didn't look the same for a week after we were done.

LOLOL

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

I can see it now, trees, bushes, mail boxes, etc., all with streaming blue TP. Oh, what a site that must of been! LOL

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

Forget I said "blue" TP, still had blue light special in my head.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

Well, the neighbors were blue....

LOL

of course we had to do our own houses, or be obvious....

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

errrr, Maggie. so you`re the one that flatened me at the k- mart store! ;)

used to work in a local k-mart many amny years ago. set up a few of those blue light specials too. [gawd, look out world!] some of those shoppers would knock ya down to get there first....holding a blue light now will probably replace public schools as the next 'mass shooting' craze!

gosh, just kidding. sure hope not.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

mutter, I remember sometimes, following the light on the movable pole, to be one of the first ones there, when it lit up. And also remember, when I first heard about the special light announced on the loud speaker, I would quickly try to think where the department was and the fastest way to get there. Oh, those were the days alright. LOL It's fun to think back to pushing the cart with a kid in the seat and dragging the other one by the hand as I went on my search of the blue light special!

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

itWASyou....! lol i remember ya now. the one with the little kid in the cart! yep! darn near knocking that 80 yr. old off her feet as you came swinging around the jewelry counter to get to the childrens clothing dept.!

i always felt i knew you before. now i know.....;)

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

Yep, you caught me. Think of that poor kid in the cart, as I had to swerve to go around that darn old lady...that should have know the aisles in wal-mart aren't safe to block, when the announcement comes over the loud speaker. Everyone that is in the aisles should move to the side to give us sale junkies the right of way. lol :~)

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001