Fad? Or Functional?

Some odd looking footwear has made its way into our home, and at first glance, you can't help but scoff.  They look like something that Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk might have uncovered on one of the planets they visited.

 They come in a variety of colors and soles, and the ones I checked out range in price from $75 to $120.

After speaking with a few devotees, I am starting to understand the attraction.  Apparently they help support your feet, perform mini-yoga classes on your toes, and runners swear they fight shin splints.  Here, let me save you a trip to the store 

If we're getting 'back to nature' with our shoes, then let's go all the way.

Sorry, but I'd rather risk life and limb wearing something cute.

 I won't be jumping on this bandwagon...will you?  Or have you already taken the leap...

Babes in boots

No, it's not a post on cute girls wearing cute boots....

A few years ago, Tony Lama Boots produced a calendar for their customers, and the image still brings a smile to my face.  Not sure if it bends the 'child labor' laws, but it presents both a clever photo and a message that you're never too young...

 

There's a lot of discussion about marketing that is directed at children, but I am pretty sure this one was purely for enjoyment.  What do you think?

Smart shopping...

With the increased use of the internet and search sites, consumers are much more informed before making their purchases, and the 'buyer beware' phrase rings less and less true.

A single negative comment on any one of the many social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) can go viral, and a this is a lot harder to bounce back from than a comment muttered under the breath of a disgruntled customer as they storm out of the store.

 Customers are the reason we are in business...they are not an interruption to our day.  They don't come in 'just to bother you', or to delay you in getting your assigned tasks done.  They matter, and what they say matters...

How will you market yourself?

As graduation looms for many, it's time to think about joining the real world.  With that comes resumes, references and job interviews.  Marketing yourself is a critical part of the process.

Will you take advantage of existing opportunities such as private businesses, maybe the family business, or a big corporations?

Or will you dive head-first into your own business as an entrepreneur? 

And you can color my world...

Our eyes and brains process so much information in a minute amount of time, and yet it's interesting when we consider the different outputs...

When considering our target market, we can use eight different descriptive names for a color that's not quite white...yet guys are okay with just 'off-white'.

You say tomato, I say tomahto.  You say red, I say appetite stimulant (it's true - just ask the restaurant marketers!).

Hugo said you go....

It's amazing how hearing an old jingle or seeing an old ad can bring back memories (be they good or bad).  This ad was around when I was very young, and even now, many (MANY) years later, I sung along like it was just yesterday.  What a blast from the past.

How many things would be considered 'wrong' in today's marketing? No seatbelts, overweight kids eating fast food, talking about getting 'thinner' due to no dinner...

What ads are embedded in your memory?

The eyes of March...

No, not a typo....shopping with someone on her first visit to the USA helped me see our local shops through a new set of eyes, and gave me a new perspective to familiar sights.  As we did our part to stimulate the economy, seeing her excitement at the window displays, merchandising efforts, and unfamiliar brand names reminded me why marketing is the ideal career choice for me.

Thankfully, there weren't any customers opening bottles...

Color changes everything...

The new Target ad is a hit with me...the clever and eye-catching concept, and also the music they chose - a song my grandmother used to sing to me as a child.

 

Well done Target marketing team - a double-whammy of visual pleasure and 

nostalgia!

Spanx for the memories...

OUTSTANDING!  Most women don't want anyone to know they're wearing Spanx...but now our latest billionaire named to Forbes Rich List is none other than Sara Blakely, founder, creator, and visionary of these sanity-saving garments.

The article shows the dedication and determination of Sara, and it is pretty inspirational - after all, no overnight success is really 'overnight'.

And now she's bringing us comfortable bathing suits!  Who knew that those words together didn't have to be an oxymoron.

So a huge Spanx you to Sara, for ridding (or at least temporarily disguising the hail damage we call cellulite, and the visible panty lines.  Spanx for everything...

Show me the shower...

A lovely afternoon of cupcakes and cocktails to celebrate the impending addition to a friend's family - among the flurry of pink tulle and sparkly paper, I realized what an amazing market is created when a baby is coming.   

But then I am also reminded of how 'uncrafty' (is that a word?!) I am...nestling my store-bought gift next to the cutest 'bouquet' made of facecloths, and a basket of 'onesies' cupcakes, forces me to wonder - can I Google that???

As it turns out, yes I can! 

Are you a gift-registry shopper, or Martha Stewart-aficionado?

Really, Angelina?

Sure I love a good magazine.  The cover can definitely determine the 'come-hither' call of it, and be a big part of the decision to snuggle it into my shopping basket or merely flip through it as I wait in the checkout line.  But not this time.

It's my own personal struggle - acceptance of Brangelina...in fact, seeing her on the cover of a magazine is enough to discourage me from buying it.  Sure, I don't know her personally, and sure, it may be childish, but there's something about her that bugs me.  And now there's this:

As if stealing Brad wasn't enough, now she has to rub our noses in it and vamp it up on the red carpet?  Thankfully, I wasn't the only one on the bandwagon...a clever anti-fan came up with...

 I chose to interpret Brad's expression as 'C'mon Angie, enough already'...

 So what do you think?  Has she pushed the envelope too far this time?

Colored denim - are you in, or are you out?

Wow.  I know things are all coming full circle and the re-arrival of ponchos proved that.

I really wasn't sure platform shoes would be back.  And they were.  And I wear them.

Then I didn't think bell-bottom jeans would be back.  And they were. And I wear them.

And now colored denim?  Hmmm....

Are you on board the revolving fashion train?

But it's for a friend...

A great justification for shopping is doing it on behalf of a friend.  I find it hard to believe, but some people just don't like to shop!  

I step into the shoes of concierge for the day and have a blast...and although I am not sure I do the shopping cart dance (below), I do enjoy myself...

Is shopping fun for you?  Or a chore?

Must. Remember. Title.

Hooray - remembered to put a title on this entry!  Hitting the 'publish' button in the same split second I realize I've forgotten the title, reminds me of shopping online.  Hitting the 'purchase' button then noticing that my color selection somehow changed from vivid cranberry to dull taupe can be quite discerning.  

Recent conversations of treasured possessions and blasts from the pasts (thanks to Toy Story and Mad Men) open up a whole new world of online searches and shopping.  Shuffling a slinky from one hand to the other, or watching the blinking eyes on a animated chatter phone (no, not a cell phone either) can bring back such fond memories.

However wading through websites, and filling a virtual shopping basket isn't for the faint of heart.  But it's for me.  So if you're out there, afraid of shopping or just plain don't care for it, I am here for you.  The thrill of the search, the primal satisfaction of locking in that final fabulous bid, and  waiting for my 'prizes' to arrive in the mail is what keeps my blood pumping.

I have been issued a challenge.  And I believe I am up to it.  The latest issue of Oprah magazine is dedicated almost entirely to decluttering your life.  It's very revealing and sometimes quite disturbing when we dissect our buying habits and find out just what motivates (is that the right word?!) us to make the purchasing choices we do.

So if I visit Oprah's website to find out more information, I am greeted with a huge (okay, small and slightly off the main page) headline about the 'Great Buy of the Week'.  How am I supposed to start decluttering when Oprah is taunting me with this?

Fabulous...but do I need it?  Of COURSE I do... for more info on this great 'find', follow the link below.

Great Buy of the Week

I sometimes find it necessary to remind myself that I am not burdened with kick-starting the economy all by myself...but surely every little purchase is for the greater good, right???

Absolutely enthralled today watching a clip about Clotaire Rapaille.  How amazing to have that type of insight, and conviction about what you are doing.

His comments regarding the unconscious associations we make with everything we buy, and how our mental highway = an unconscious code - the more I thought about it, the more sense it made to me.

He spoke of the reptilian hunt button, and after watching him, I couldn't help feeling that perhaps he has a little reptile in him, as he was totally mesmerizing.

A message that resonated with me from the rest of this movie was that communication needs to drive commerce, not just make people feel good.

While enjoying my few minutes of treasured, mindless TV watching last night, I was impressed by the simplicity and apparent relevance (to me) of this commercial.  Left me wanting to know more so I say mission accomplished.  If you can get past the annoying screaming, it's quite effective...

I love being a consumer, and an avid one at that....so I am not sure studying my own consumer habits would reveal anything that could be applied to the majority....but doing the 'consumer research' sure is fun!

My resolution for today is that I will no longer display a look of utter disbelief at those who state they aren't on Facebook. What are they thinking?  It's the greatest thing ever.  Stay in touch with those you lost touch with over the years (whether or not it was intentional).  It's so easy!

But wait.  I am being introduced to the world of 'wiki' and I just know that internally I am having the same fears/questions/concerns that my non-facebookers have.  So a little more sympathy and/or understanding with be forthcoming, as I attempt to conquer that huge hurdle I have placed in front of my progress (which I have affectionately named 'OMG OMG I have no idea what I am doing').  

Instead, I shall make that first move towards my cyberspace future by bravely climbing onto my first step which also has an affectionate name: 'stop being such a 'fraidey cat'.

From a 'speed of light' introduction to wiki creations today, I wrote down enough notes to cover an entire wall of whiteboards.  I am pretty sure I can make sense of them later today when I start to decipher the scrawl.

What am I saying....only 3 hours have passed and already I am sure I have sent definitions and pretty graphics to half of the cyberworld without even realizing it.  Hopefully I didn't accidentally crash through any firewalls that will get the cyber-police knocking on my door, demanding to know how and why I hacked into the Arizona Valley Medical Marijuana Coalition's website....

Big week for me - I am now both a blogger and a twitterer...or is that tweeter?

At the request of our instructor for Consumer Behavior class, I have created this blog.  I spent 15 minutes typing my first blog, only to have it 'sign me out' and delete everything I wrote...hmmmm.....

I can tell this class is going to be very interesting and thought-provoking, after only one session.  Our discussion today on behavioral research and how our decision making process can be influenced by emotions, peer pressure and/or a yearning to fit in.


We also had a great discussion on how it is human nature to 'judge' people, whether we realize we're doing it or not.  Those split-second thought processes that follow a cursory glance at someone wearing something you like/want can leave an indelible imprint on your internal 'must have' list.


Ernest Dichter was onto something....