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Margaret Thatcher memorabilia fails to materialise Margaret Thatcher memorabilia fails to materialise
(6 months later)
Margaret Thatcher may be one of the UK's most famous figures but, even as her funeral approaches, she is failing to draw in tourists. In gift shops across the Strand, where her funeral procession will travel, and in the tourist hotspots of Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, it is hard to find a single item of Thatcher memorabilia – and there don't seem to be plans to introduce any.Margaret Thatcher may be one of the UK's most famous figures but, even as her funeral approaches, she is failing to draw in tourists. In gift shops across the Strand, where her funeral procession will travel, and in the tourist hotspots of Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, it is hard to find a single item of Thatcher memorabilia – and there don't seem to be plans to introduce any.
Romy Samuel, 30, who works for the Strand branch of House of Gifts, said: "If a supplier comes with new products, we might consider it, but we haven't planned anything yet." He is uncertain whether Thatcher souvenirs would sell. Even the royal family is only "seasonally popular. There was a huge demand during the royal wedding, but it's quiet nowadays."Romy Samuel, 30, who works for the Strand branch of House of Gifts, said: "If a supplier comes with new products, we might consider it, but we haven't planned anything yet." He is uncertain whether Thatcher souvenirs would sell. Even the royal family is only "seasonally popular. There was a huge demand during the royal wedding, but it's quiet nowadays."
John McDonald, 51, who supplies tourist memorabilia to shops, said "not in a million years" would he sell any Thatcher-related items, "because of what she did to the country". "She was only for the rich and she created yuppies. She didn't help working class people at all," he said.John McDonald, 51, who supplies tourist memorabilia to shops, said "not in a million years" would he sell any Thatcher-related items, "because of what she did to the country". "She was only for the rich and she created yuppies. She didn't help working class people at all," he said.
Saleem Waker, 26, manager of gift shop in Leicester Square, said: "I don't think I'm going to do anything, even on the day of the funeral. It's not like the royal wedding or diamond jubilee. No one has asked for anything." Justine Pear, 30, from Poland, who bought a teddy bear wearing a London jumper from Waker's shop, described Thatcher as a "great person who helped Great Britain," but she said "I'm just buying presents for my friends and they want something connected to London, not Margaret Thatcher."Saleem Waker, 26, manager of gift shop in Leicester Square, said: "I don't think I'm going to do anything, even on the day of the funeral. It's not like the royal wedding or diamond jubilee. No one has asked for anything." Justine Pear, 30, from Poland, who bought a teddy bear wearing a London jumper from Waker's shop, described Thatcher as a "great person who helped Great Britain," but she said "I'm just buying presents for my friends and they want something connected to London, not Margaret Thatcher."
Recent college graduate Vanessa Gertman,22, from Idaho, has no interest in Thatcher memorabilia: "I don't really believe in her ideology. If it was with someone I liked, maybe I'd consider it."Recent college graduate Vanessa Gertman,22, from Idaho, has no interest in Thatcher memorabilia: "I don't really believe in her ideology. If it was with someone I liked, maybe I'd consider it."
Her friend Anna Nelson, 21, said: "If I were to get anything with person it would probably be the Royal Family because that's novel to me. We have politicians in the States, but we don't have a queen."Her friend Anna Nelson, 21, said: "If I were to get anything with person it would probably be the Royal Family because that's novel to me. We have politicians in the States, but we don't have a queen."
Christian Brisson, 39, from Montreal, said. "I like kitsch things and clichés about London but I wouldn't buy anything with Thatcher or the Queen. I'm against royalty and what Thatcher stood for," he said. "I would buy a mug with the Sex Pistols on, though."Christian Brisson, 39, from Montreal, said. "I like kitsch things and clichés about London but I wouldn't buy anything with Thatcher or the Queen. I'm against royalty and what Thatcher stood for," he said. "I would buy a mug with the Sex Pistols on, though."
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