Thursday, January 27, 2005

Blue-Light Special Re-Appears at Kmart

Kmart billboard, Detroit.  This 2002 billboard announced the return of the Kmart blue-light special, which it discontinued again in 2003.  The blue-light special made a brief re-appearance in Kmart stores this month, but the company says it has no long-term plans to use the storied promotion.

TROY, Mich. (AP) - The blue-light special made a brief re-appearance in Kmart stores this month, but the company says it has no long-term plans to use the storied promotion.

The retailer advertised a ``blue-light event'' for clearance items in most of its stores on Jan. 15 and 16, said Stephen Pagnani, a spokesman for Troy-based Kmart Holding Corp.

But he emphasized that the company is not permanently bringing back the blue light in its advertising and in-store promotions.

``We have no long-term plans to use it,'' Pagnani said Thursday. ``We may occasionally use it.''

He added: ``We know there's some recognition (of the phrase) among our customers.''

Kmart started using a flashing blue light to direct customers to unadvertised sale items beginning in 1965. But in the late 1980s, it lost its luster as it became another way of getting rid of unwanted merchandise and damaged goods.

Kmart reintroduced the Blue Light Special in 2001 after a 10-year absence. However, it gave up on it the following year.

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