Blackboard joke creates a Grey area

It started out as a casual conversation between friends but ever since Australind Home Hardware started advertising ‘‘50 Shades of Grey accessories available here’’ on its blackboard staff have been tied down with inquiries.

The store’s owner Leah Triplett has a penchant for writing comical messages on the signs and when friends started reading author EL James’ smash-hit erotic novel the temptation tomake a crack about ropes, chains and cable ties in the book was too great.

MrsTriplett said she had also decided to capitalise on the novel’s runaway success, with sales figures of more than 40 million in four months reported after slower than normal retail conditions in recent months.

She said the store had been fielding a number of inquiries for ropes and cable ties from sheepish customers in the last few months — a trend Mrs Triplett attributed to the 50 Shades of Grey series.

At the end of the day Mrs Triplett said the sign was a bit of fun and she hoped no one took it too seriously.

‘‘If it brightens a person’s day and made them smile we have achieved something,’’ she said.

‘‘Even the senior citizens who frequent the hall across the road walk past with little smirks on their faces.’’

The book follows the romantic exploits of university student Anastasia, who incidentally works in a hardware store and strikes up a relationship with control freak billionaire and bondage enthusiast Christian Grey.

The three-part series, which started life as erotic fan fiction for vampire series Twilight, has broken sales records around the globe, however its readership is overwhelmingly women.

The books’ author E.L. James said the story ‘‘filled a void in the lives of many modern women.’’