Washington, DC, February 4—If you were hoping to buy an Obama watch as a memento of the 2008 election, you’re out of luck. Obama Watches has run out of time. Literally.
The Internet memorabilia company whose watches are in the permanent collection of two Washington, DC museums, the Smithsonian Institution and the Newseum, has sold its final Obama Watch.
It was quite a run. Obama Watches produced 15 different watches during the presidential campaign and Inauguration. President Obama’s recent sinking popularity apparently did not hurt watch sales as the company wound down their business.
“Actually, the worse things got for Obama, the more people wanted to own a watch,” said Jack Goldenberg, President, Obama Watches.
The online company (www.obamawatches.com)
"We've had a great run," Goldenberg added, "but it's time to stop and move on.”
Goldenberg, who marketed the first McDonald’s Happy Meal and other American icons, never planned to be in the Obama watch business. In December 2007, he wore a single Obama watch to a friend's birthday party as a one-man viral campaign supporting Barack Obama. The next morning five friends called to ask him, “Where can I get one of those Obama watches?"
The most popular Obama watch is the President Obama Peoples' Inaugural watch. "This is the one the president wears," Goldenberg said, pointing to his wrist.
"President Obama?" Goldenberg was asked.
"No, President Goldenberg, President of Obama Watches," he replied.
Actually, President Obama might actually have several of his namesake watches. During the campaign, at the request of the Democratic Party, Goldenberg handed then-Senator Obama five watches at an exclusive 30-person fundraiser in Philadelphia. The watches were immediately grabbed by an alert Secret Service agent who took them away, inspected them, and returned them to an Obama aide.
The price for Obama Watches has risen since they were first introduced, from $60 to $125. Obama Watches will remain open through the end of the month, but no more watches are available through the company’s online store.
The company still owns a few dozen Obama watches, but they are not for sale, "I'm holding onto them. I think they'll be worth a lot more in the future," Goldenberg said.
