Boobs Out, Sales In? Spoiler: It Didn’t Work

Ever thought sex appeal sells? Spoiler alert: My big boobs didn’t boost Comicon sales! Join me on a hilarious journey of marketing mishaps and lessons learned!

So, let me tell you a little story. Until October 2021, I had huge boobs. Like, we’re talking an HH cup — flirting with a J. And let me tell you, they were heavy. Not just physically, but mentally too. They weighed on my chest, my mind, and my spirit. Eventually, I decided to get a breast reduction, and honestly? It’s the best choice I’ve ever made. No contest. Now, here’s where things get interesting. I’ll admit — before the reduction, I kind of… used my boobs to my advantage. Sometimes not in the most noble ways. I mean, what’s a girl supposed to do when she’s got expensive tastes but no steady income?

During university, my parents were firm about me not getting a part-time job. Their logic? “Focus on your studies!” — even though I only had, like, five or six lectures a week. Meanwhile, teenage me was obsessed with trainers and other material things. So, yeah, I needed to hustle, but without breaking the “no job” rule. That’s when my best friend’s dad saved the day.

He ran a full-time Comicon stall, travelling to all the big events around the UK. When it came to the larger conventions, he’d need extra hands to help run the stall. And guess what? My friends and I got the gig — even though we were complete anime amateurs. Those weekends felt like mini-vacations. All expenses paid — hotel, travel, food, everything. Plus, getting cash in hand on top of that? As a student, it was my dream. Imagine chilling in a hotel with your friends, stuffing your face on someone else’s dime, and getting paid for it. Life was good. If you’ve never been to a Comicon, I highly recommend going, even if you’re clueless about anime.

Honestly, I went in only knowing Pikachu, Yu-Gi-Oh, and maybe Goku from Dragon Ball Z. But by the end of those events, my anime knowledge had seriously levelled up. If you’re curious about where to start, give Death Note a try — but, pro tip, watch the anime series before diving into the movie. You’ll thank me later.

Alright, so let me tell you what it’s really like at Comicon. Imagine a sea of die-hard anime fans — 95% of them decked out in costumes that’ll make your jaw drop. Some outfits are pure art. But then there are the… questionable ones. Case in point: Slenderman. Yep, someone showed up as that faceless creep, and let me tell you, it scared the life out of me. I wasn’t ready for that. Now, working the stall was pretty straightforward: my job was to sell everything — T-shirts, mugs, wallets, posters, you name it. From 2015 to 2018, cash was king at Comicon. Why? Because getting a signal for the card machines was a lost cause. If you wanted to make sales, you had to work the crowd and reel them in.

That’s how it goes when you’re running a stall. Bonus? My friend’s dad gave us a little extra cash if we hit our targets. Pretty sweet, right? One day, I had what I thought was a stroke of genius: Why not use what I’ve got to grab some attention? I mean, if it worked for marketing strategies, why not a Comicon stall? So, I was there in my jeans, a vest top, and a jumper. And I thought, What if I just… lost the jumper? With two rather large assets on display, how could anyone walk by without stopping?

So, off it went. But, surprise! The sales didn’t budge. Not a single extra poster or mug was sold. Turns out boobs aren’t as effective a marketing tool as I thought. But — something else did happen. Out of nowhere, this guy — middle-aged, white, camera slung around his neck, and giving off serious “off” vibes — came up to me. “Can I take a photo?” he asked. Thinking he wanted a shot of the stall (which was normal at these events), I said, “Yeah, sure, go ahead.” People took pictures of everything at Comicon, so I didn’t think much of it.

But then he clarified: “No, I mean… can I take a photo of you?” Instant alarm bells. “Not. Goodbye,” I snapped, and he slinked away. I yanked my jumper back on faster than you can say “Nope.” My gut was screaming at me — something about that guy was off. Maybe he was a photographer, maybe he wasn’t. At Comicon, you get people dressed up as anything, even cops.

So, if this guy was just posing as a photographer, no one would have batted an eye. And here’s the thing — women have this built-in sixth sense when it comes to creepy men. I will give him 1% credit for asking instead of just snapping a photo without permission. But still, there wasn’t much I could’ve done if he decided to take the shot anyway.

Needless to say, I never tried the “boobs out, money in” strategy again. That was one of my last Comicon gigs, too. My final year of uni got hectic, and I just didn’t have time to work anymore. Turns out, Mum and Dad were right after all. Well… semi-right.

The Bottom Line

In the end, the “boobs out, money in” experiment was a bust — literally and figuratively. It turns out, that charm, confidence, and a good product do more for sales than anything else hanging off your chest. While I learned that attention doesn’t always convert to profit, I also learned to trust my instincts, value my boundaries, and know when to say, “Not. Goodbye.”

So, if you’re ever tempted to lean on a gimmick, take it from me: It’s your wit, not your wardrobe, that truly seals the deal.