Fifty Shades Of Business

Fifty Shades of Grey (Credit: Vintage Books)

While the eyes of the world are beginning to focus on London for the 2012 OlympicGames, my attention is diverted north toward the Lake District of England. This is where you’ll find the Damson Dene Hotel, a 40-bedroom retreat that has made the bold decision to replace the Gideon Bible in each room with the smash hit “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E. L. James.

On his blog Innkeeper Jonathan Denby explained the decision noting the world is a more secular place, no one reads the bible (some even dislike that it’s in their room), and that “Fifty Shades of Grey” is something everyone seems to want to read at the moment.

Cultural phenomenons come at us all the time and businesses of all stripes and colors regularly find a way to attach themselves to them. For example, you can go to any number of delicatessens and order a Philadelphia-themed Rocky Balboa hoagie. The question is knowing when this is a right move for your business and in what fashion.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevecooper/2012/07/25/fifty-shades-of-...