what wins on Sunday sells on Monday

what wins on Sunday sells on Monday

English

Alternative forms

• race on Sunday, sell on Monday
• win on Sunday, sell on Monday
• wins on Sunday, sells on Monday

Proverb

what wins on Sunday sells on Monday

1. (chiefly US, marketing, motor sports) A brand of automobile that performs well in racing competitions will be popular with retail purchasers.
   • 1991 July 3, Al Pearce, "General Motors likely to reduce NASCAR funds," Daily Press (Virginia, US) (retrieved 15 Oct 2018):

     Doesn't anyone remember the axiom that what wins on Sunday sells on Monday? Automotive execs may wonder whether that still applies, but you can bet they know who won before they go to bed each Sunday night.

   • 2008 December 20, Don Crinklaw, "Life in the fast lane," Sun-Sentinel (Florida, US) (retrieved 15 Oct 2018):

     "The automakers have provided a lot of money and support for NASCAR," Baker said. "They believe that what wins on Sunday sells on Monday."

   • 2011 April 8, Bruce Martin, "Penske talks future in IndyCar, Danica's foray in NASCAR, more," Sports Illustrated (retrieved 15 Oct 2018):

     "Chevrolet wants to have an engine running after midyear so by July we want to be running it on the track in car tests," Penske said. "They say what wins on Sunday sells on Monday."

   • 2012 May 22, Micheline Maynard, "'Mad Men' And The Glory Of Mid-1960s Cars," Forbes (retrieved 15 Oct 2018):

     Auto racing was a glamorous extension of Detroit's iconic position in American life, where "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" was gospel truth.

2. (chiefly US, marketing, by extension) Any equipment available to consumers that performs well in widely-viewed public events on weekends can be expected to receive higher retail sales subsequently.
   • 2006 April 13, Ed Sherman, "Dual-driver bag is not for duffers," Chicago Tribune (retrieved 15 Oct 2018):

     There's an old saying in the golf industry: What wins on Sunday sells on Monday. Golfers are the ultimate copycats.