At Crooked Monkey, customer service is paramount. The customer is always right, and we're always super excited when customers get phenomenal deals. We even like to share them with you so that you can replicate their deals--and get t-shirts for as cheap as possible.

As you are fully aware, People.com's Stylewatch, featured our funny t-shirts on their site and offered a 20% discount. That discount, on all our t-shirts, ends on Friday. All you have to do is use the promo code: "People"

So here's the amazing deal: A customer bought two discounted shirts, used the People promo code and got free shipping (which everyone gets when you buy two shirts). She bought our Gimme Some Sugar t-shirt (on sale at $16) and our More money more problems t-shirt (Priced at $19.99 in honor of the recession). She ended up spending $28 for two shirts, including shipping. That's $14/shirt. Good work! I think she got the best deal ever for two t-shirts.

Go look for your own deals on www.crookedmonkey.com. Don't forget to use the 20% promo code.

Labels: Celebrations, customer service, Customer stories, Promo Code, promotions, recession, Recession shirts, sales

Maybe this recession isn't so bad after all. We've got more time with our families, more time to pursue our hobbies and passions, and more time to give back to our communities. Sure, our bank accounts are smaller and we're about to lose our jobs--but that's all immaterial.

See, it's like the more money we come across, the more problems we see. Notorious, like a prophet, foreshadowed this recession. Check out our More money more problems t-shirt. It's only 19.99.

Labels: 19.99 shirts, economy, more money more problems, new t-shirt, Notorious BIG, recession, Recession shirts

Ok we get it. We're supposed to save money now. Our national savings rate, before this recession, was a negative number--meaning that we spent more than we earned. Our consumerist society finally caught up to us and we are paying for it now.

But that doesn't mean we have to start living like the Amish. We can still pamper ourselves a little. And if shopping is your vice, then so be it. Some people spend their money on cars, others on mistresses. If you want to spend it on a nice bag or a cool t-shirt, don't feel ashamed. Buy it, and let everyone know that you're not afraid to spend a little money on yourself.

Our I love to shop t-shirt kills many birds with one stone--it's cheap (only 19.99, and I'm sure you can find some sort of discount code on the internet to make it even cheaper), it's funny, and it's true.

Labels: 19.99 shirts, cheap, Cheap is chic, economy, I still love to shop, new t-shirt, recession, Recession shirts, saving money

We like to group shirts in fours--mostly because our product page has four columns in each row--but also because four is a mystical number. Two plus Two is Four. Two times Two is Four. Its a very square and agreeable number. We made four girls recession t-shirts this time around.

Our Cheap is Chic Girls Recession T-shirt is the perfect shirt for girls who used to be cheap but had to hide it. Now you can say it loud, "I'm Cheap and i'm proud." It's kind of like buying a stock low and selling it high--Cheap used to be so taboo. Now its cool. Own the word, live the life, buy the shirt.

Labels: 19.99 shirts, cheap, Cheap is chic, economy, mystical, new t-shirt, recession, Recession shirts, stock market

The stock market soared over 1,000 points last month. Unemployment numbers have stopped their downward spiral, and the overall sentiment is that this recession is almost over.

Time to start making fun of that lame ass recession. We came out with four recession t-shirts. This shirt, Broke is the new Black is one of my favorites. Playing on the "(Insert word here) is the New Black" phenomenon this shirt lets people know that it's hip to be broke. Long gone are the days of flaunting your money and proclaiming that you're frivolously spending cash.

Our Recession tees are only $19.99. Enjoy them.

Labels: 19.99 shirts, Broke is the new black, economy, new t-shirt, recession, Recession shirts, stock market, top blog posts

As you all aware, we are running a 20% discount on all our funny shirts. You don't have to type in a promo code--its a gift to celebrate our 200th blog post.

A customer of ours just logged onto the site and got a phenomenal deal--better than any recession buster deal I've seen.

Here's how it went down: Fully aware that you can get free shipping when you buy two or more shirts, he ordered a couple Facebook t-shirts at the regular 20% sale, and then entered an extra 15% promo code at checkout. Leaving him with a total discount of 42% off!! The total should've been: $53, but because of his savvy shopping, he only paid $30.72. Good work. We're always happy to see our customers take advantage of great deals, and this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime deals.

Labels: Celebrations, customer service, Customer stories, discounts, Promo Code, promotions, recession, sales

As a wholesaler of funny t-shirts, Crooked Monkey has always found creative ways to get our t-shirts into the hands of the end consumer (that's you!).

In the beginning we used to drive around in our Honda Civic--making appointments and delivering shirts on site. Then we started attending tradeshows--really launching our brand further. We started to get recognized at these tradeshows and attending more and more of them. At the height of our love of tradeshows, we probably attended 20 shows/year. Buyers from retail stores all over the country, and the world, came to check out our newest lines and see what new wholesale opportunities were available for them.

Then came the recession. Buyers realized that a trip to Las Vegas, with all the associated costs, was just not in the cards, baby. They decided, and rightfully so, that they'd rather use their money on clothing, and not on frivolous trips. By August of 2008, we decided that Crooked Monkey would significantly reduce its presence at tradeshows and increase its direct contact with stores--either thru road trips (returning to the glory days), phone calls, emails, and other methods.

It is with a bitter sweet feeling that I report that we made the right decision. The Tradeshow is dead. They have become a waste of time. Crooked Monkey has managed to reduce its presence at shows, while still growing during this great recession--proof that quality and awesomeness at the right price is priceless.

Here's one other issue that really irks me about tradeshows. The slowing economy causes less retailers to attend tradeshows. Meaning that wholesalers, like Crooked Monkey, sell less clothes at these shows. The logical progression would be that Tradeshows should drop the price of their shows and offer incentives--yet they continue to charge astronomical prices. How does that make any sense? Not a sermon, just a thought.

Oh and the picture below is from our first ever tradeshow 3 years ago! That's Jon, Della and Me.

Labels: About us, Boutiques, not a sermon just a thought, Office Stories, recession, reflections, retail, ruminations, Tradeshows, wholesale