Funny Or Die’s KFOD investigates the fall of beach balls
Kai Ryssdal: We’re adding jobs, as we learned last Friday. The housing industry’s picking up. So there’s a case to be made that the economy’s stronger than it might at first glance appear.
But one industry is starting to see some downward-trending sales: The once-lucrative beach ball business. We sent the news team from the online comedy site Funny Or Die to find out what’s going on.
Lauren Palmigiano: Bouncing beach balls. You’ve probably seen the classic striped variety being bandied about in the park, at the ball game, and of course, at the beach. It’s America’s pastime, but lately the beach ball industry is in trouble. Big trouble.
Local merchant: Yeah, around Memorial Day, we were selling 20, 25 beach balls a day. But in the last two weeks, it’s really slowed down.
This local merchant describes what’s happening around the country, prompting some to ask: “Has the beach ball bubble burst?”
Local merchant: Yeah, we’re selling so few beach balls, I think we’re gonna have to give that shelf space to pens and paper and backpacks. Because those thigns are selling a lot more right now.
It appears the beach ball boom has gone bust while backpacks are suddenly selling like backpacks filled with hotcakes. It’s just a sign that our economy is unstable and unpredictable. But for now, one of the world’s favorite sandy fun-time beach tradition is in jeopardy of being washed away, like a beach ball sometimes gets washed away… in the surf…at the beach.
Ryssdal: That was the work of Lauren Palmigiano, Danny Jelinek and Ryan Perez from Funny Or Die. There’s more at FunnyOrDie.com.
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