OCEANSIDE — A life-size Barbie outside Copperwood Barber Shop on Mission Avenue prompted City Council to consider relaxing its sign ordinances on Oct. 15.
Councilman Jack Feller asked council to review regulations that caused code enforcement to order the barbershop to remove its mannequin. Feller said the mechanized mannequin that waves a sign at passing vehicles is creative advertising.
“I hate to take uniqueness away in advertising,” Feller said.
Feller pointed out other Oceanside businesses use a cow, mermaid or stack of tires to get customers’ attention, and added it’s unfair the mannequin was singled out.
“Sign twirlers are essentially the same thing,” Feller said.
During the meeting council members cautioned that without precise wording an ordinance change could open the door to offensive advertising.
“It’s not one item, other people will want to do it,” Councilman Jerry Kern said.
“We’re taking the lid off the box,” City Manager Steve Jepsen said. “The signs I saw online were very offensive. We need to be remarkably careful about that.”
Following the meeting, Feller said wording could include perimeters regarding taste.
“I believe we could specifically say something like ‘no peek-a-boo clothing or bikinis,’ naming attire that most people would be offended by,” Feller said. “I think we’ll accomplish something.”
Currently the city does not have regulations about using mannequins as advertising. The mannequin in question has a motorized component that puts it in the mechanical signs category, and therefore violates present sign ordinances.
Barbershop owners Sherman and Allen Morris have switched off the mechanical aspects of the mannequin, and put it inside the shop.
The shop owners said the head-turning mannequin doubled business when it was in front of the shop for 90 days.
The shop’s mannequin is affectionately nicknamed Barbie, and stays tastefully dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans in seasonal colors.
The mannequin cost $2,000, and is one of multiple attention-grabbing advertising strategies the shop uses, including feather banners and sign twirlers.
Sheila Morris, barbershop manager, said they invested in the mannequin due to lapses in recruiting and maintaining sign twirlers.
“The joke is she’s the best employee, and doesn’t take breaks,” Sheila Morris said.
Sheila Morris said nearby business owners enjoyed the playful advertising, and extra business it brought to the shopping center. The neighboring flower shop borrowed the mannequin to boost Valentine Day sales.
“There was one complaint, we assumed it was a competitor,” Sheila Morris said. “Everybody liked it.”
She added customers also have a fondness for Barbie, and have asked where she went after she was taken inside.
The owners said they hope the city will modify regulations to allow them to use their investment.
City Council directed staff to bring back suggestions on sign ordinance modifications that include perimeters on tasteful advertising.
3 comments
Funny that City officials have a problem with a mannequin at a barber shop, but have no problem in supporting huge electronic billboards along our freeways; billboards local businesses can’t afford to advertise on that will be used for political ads for big money campaign contributors like builders and developers. Maybe it’s because the builders and developers are the ones who’ll be able to afford to buy that advertising. Support “Mom & Pop” businesses and Oceanside’s local economy. Dump Kern and Felien.
Dear N.S. & Ms. Yee:
At tonight’s Tea Party Candidate meeting, flyers of Mr. Felien’s 9-1-1 call logs and “Why NOT Kern & Felien” were passed out. If VOTERS are in FAVOR of domestic violence, disruptive outbursts in public meetings, stealing mayoral powers for the guy who LOST the election, ‘puppy mill’ stores that have been banned in other cities, a toxic landfill on Oceanside’s water supply, closing homeless shelters, and kicking seniors, veterans and disabled persons out of their homes, by all means, vote for the incumbents. Otherwise, DUMP KERN & FELIEN IN 2014. CORSO for COUNCIL in 2014.
I was at the Council meeting. The vote on mechanical signs was interesting but there were other (perhaps more urgent) developments to report.
At one point the city clerk cut off the official recording because Gary Felien had another meltdown — unbecoming behavior for an elected city representative if you ask me.
Ms. Yee — if this is your beat, why not investigate the reason for 12 police calls to Councilmember Felien’s residence between 2010 and 2013 (during which time he served on Council)? Also, aren’t you curious why official logs of his son’s recent arrests for DUI (drugs) and shoplifting were omitted from official logs?
Oceanside voters deserve to be informed about matters that affect the character and fitness to serve of their elected representatives. Especially when those people are running for the privilege of serving four more years.
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