Powerful stories spread quickly, and attract money. And if I’m right that the marketing for a women’s clothing company is working, stories also sell clothes.

In a catalog that I received several months ago from title nine, I noticed that the pages featured profiles of real women wearing the clothes. For example a picture of a woman with rowing oars and the following text:

MEREDITH

Occupation: Reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle

Sport: Rowing

Accomplishment: 2 Pulitzer Prize nominations

Hero: The Silver Surfer

Favorite color: Chrome

To relax: Roller disco in the park

Maybe this isn’t all that new in the markeing arena, but it sure caught my attention. Because it caused me to expand on the story about Meredith and what it must mean in terms of the clothes she wears.  "She wears clothes that reflect her active lifestyle and that complement her intellect. Hey, wouldn’t I want that, too?" Some variation of that monologue plays out in my mind to complete the story of Meredith.

Human beings are not only drawn to stories but also compelled to expand the stories with their own interpretation.