While the critics view those selling imprinted T-shirts as capitalizing on tragedy, those buying from the vendors do not see it in the same way. People purchasing T-shirts are doing so not to support the seller, but to support the message, and in this way the screen-printers are serving a purpose. As Donna Hoffman, marketing professor at the University of California-Riverside told Anderson in his original article, "People can start to wear their feelings and emotions. It makes sense, even if there's a profit motive. There's a legitimate interest in sharing the pain, and these products do that."
Kyle A. Richardson is the editorial director of Promo Marketing. He joined the company in 2006 brings more than a decade of publishing, marketing and media experience to the magazine. If you see him, buy him a drink.