A lot of people believe they're immune to advertising and marketing. A lot of people are wrong.
marketing
You’ve Heard of Throwback Jerseys and Retro Clothing. But Old-School Cereal and Vintage Laundry Detergent?
A nostalgic “back to basics” movement has taken root in the world of product marketing, and the result is that everything from soda to fabric softener and Doritos to Ding Dongs now come in vintage-looking packaging with …
How Oprah Winfrey Implicitly Endorses Consumerism and Materialism
“For her, transformation is about self-esteem and about buying stuff.”
Greenwashing: Nearly All Products’ Eco-Friendly Claims Are Bogus or Misleading
More and more “green” products are entering the marketplace. And more and more, the labels claiming that a product is green, eco-friendly, or otherwise good for the environment are fairly meaningless.
Which Came First: Cheap Fast Food, or the Desire for Cheap Fast Food?
“People don’t like cheap, tasty, high-calorie fare because McDonald’s offers it. McDonald’s offers it because people like it.”
DVDs in the ‘Disney Vault’: B.S. Manipulative Marketing at its Best (Worst?)
Every now and again, Disney pulls movies out of the marketplace and places them out of consumer reach in the vaunted “Disney Vault.” On the surface, this makes no sense: Why would a company, which obviously makes money by selling …
Insane Clown Controversy: Deep Thoughts on the Movement to Retire Ronald McDonald
Firing a clown isn’t going to end the childhood obesity problem. I actually sorta think that kids are scared of clowns, so the presence of that creepy white-faced clown face may keep them away from McDonald’s. But obviously, based on the recent outcry to get the Golden Arches to stop marketing to kids, there are plenty of people who want …
Are Fast Food Chains Turning Kids into Fat Gamblers?
Chuck E. Cheese and McDonald’s have come under fire not only for marketing heavily to kids, but for causing obesity and encouraging gambling.
PBR, the Quintessential Cheap Hipster Beer, Goes Hollywood
The headquarters for Schlitz, Old Style, and Pabst Blue Ribbon beers is moving from the Midwest to Los Angeles. Could this make the favorite swill of hipsters unhip—or even worse, expensive?
Everything You Need to Know About Consumers, Part II
In Part I of this consumer factoid extravaganza, we learned all sorts of weird info about spending habits, housing costs, and family expenditures. For the sequel, we’re dealing with moms, Mexicans, McDonald’s, men’s dwindling DIY skills, the earning power of maiden names, how using a cell phone can be a sign of poverty, grandparents …
83 Money Tips: Get Half Off All Your Purchases, Get Out of Speeding Tickets, and More
This week’s tip roundup also includes lessons learned from taking on DIY projects, from observing the business model of discount supermarkets, and from not shopping for 127 days in a row.
Nowadays, the Rich Actually Pause Before Spending, Care About Value
Research shows that in the post-recession era, wealthy Americans are more inclined to wait for items to go on sale before making purchases. Brand names mean less to them, marketing has less influence as well, and the number of well-off shoppers who say they trust salespeople has plummeted. In other words, the rich today are more likely …
