About selling clocks

The following are my thoughts on selling clocks:

I don't think they should be running in the store, but if they ARE, they should not be set to the current time. You don't want a customer running out because they suddenly realize they're late. You should be able to sell timepieces in a time-neutral environmant. Importantly, set the clocks RANDOMLY to different times. This will create a fun variety for people.

The a downside to the running clocks is that a person may react positively or negatively to a particular time that's showing on the clock (major event in life, or perhaps just reminding them of what the clock looks like when they need to be at work. Or at home). As a retailer, you should be more in control of your customers and not allow their neuroses to kill a sale.

So I recommend the stopped clock - and having all clocks at the same time. That says "these are all fine timepieces, stopped for your convenience, so please evaluate them on their own strengths and merits, and not by the whimsy of what time means to you". It also prevents the customer from making a decision based on the loudness of "tick" on the second hand.

But what time? I am a fan of Ten after Ten. It looks very optimistic, sort of "Wave your arms in the air". Five after Eleven is a little too much "Stick em UP". Six PM may appeal to people who see things in black and white, but it's a bit too "put on", and people may feel like you're pulling one over on them. Same goes for 9:15, though the inevitable creep upward of the hour hand on that one perhaps adds a little character.

Twelve noon is just terrible, as it doesn't allow people to see and appreciate the difference between the minute and hour hands. You might as well just be selling clock FACES. Any of the downward pointing times (20 past 7, 25 past 6) are depressing - showing a figure that has given up and can't even raise it's arms. It shows weakness. Not something a timepiece should convey.

And that is I think all the advice I have for the clock sellers of the world.