Design for All

I was done with shopping. Inside my red cart: lamp and shade, extension cord and powerstrip, four soft white 60W light bulbs, two ice trays. I'd held strong against my urges to purchase a blender, whole wheat pasta, an oak filing cabinet, cotton underwear, a ceramic Japanese dragon, and a Pirates of the Caribbean DVD. However, on my way to the register, my attention was taken by an aisle of stereo components.

Here, in Target of all places, was a very fine and attractive display for setting up a hi-end stereo system. In smooth, hip font — though perhaps just a little bit scruffy and with Chuck Taylors casually undone — Target explained:

1. Start with a receiver
2. Choose your loudspeakers
3. Add your accessories

None of the gear on display would make it through JA's measuring torture or even pass the knuckle-rap test. But, still. We're in Target, after all.

Target!

And this wasn't just Bose. In fact, Bose was nowhere to be found, for once. Instead, a billion zillion Target shoppers could choose from:

Sony, JBL, KEF, Athena, and Harman-Kardon. Not a slacker in the bunch. And, while none of this particular gear was priced over $500, all of these companies feature much more expensive, much more seriously hi-fi, lines.

And so I'm saying to myself: What the hell? Where is Stereophile? Why don't we, for instance, put up a nice, little shelf of Buyer's Guides? Whether it's with Thomas O'Brien furniture, Isaac Mizrahi handbags, Michael Graves martini shakers, or KEF loudspeakers, Target does a wonderful job of introducing the masses to worlds they might have never known. Why can't Stereophile be involved? I see a perfect fit.

I wish I could simply walk into Target with a box of Stereophile and create my own display. Of course, it's not that easy. But can it be that hard?

Dear Circulation,
What's a magazine gotta do?

Please let me know. Thanks very much.
Stephen Mejias – Assistant Editor
Stereophile

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