Brands

[poliphilo]

One of the things I've learned from doing marketing surveys is how little attention I pay to brands. For me toothpaste is toothpaste and washing-up liquid is washing-up liquid and an ink-jet printer is an ink-jet printer. When they ask- for example- what kind of air-freshener  I'm using I have to go and look. As often as not the answer is store's own brand. The only brands I have loyalty to are those where a quirky product has become synonymous with the name it's marketed under (especially if I remember it from childhood.)  I'm thinking of  Marmite and Lucozade and Mars Bars. The idea that one might "love" a particular brand and despise the half dozen others that are offering approximately the same generic service or experience strikes me as inherently ridiculous. Coke or Pepsi? I've never been able to tell the difference.

The survey I just completed was asking if my perception of certain brands would improve if they were associated with musicians I like (or can tolerate). The short answer is "No". The more nuanced answer is my perception of the musicians would take a dive. It's like Nietzsche said about pits and how they gaze back into you. There's a price to pay for taking the advertiser's shilling. Your coolness rubs off on the product and its uncoolness rubs off on you. 

Comments

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I only notice brands if they do a particularly excellent or horrendous job. Which should be no surprise to anyone in a marketing department. :)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Most brands are OK. Nothing special. They do what they're supposed to do. And they want a medal for it?

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I seem to have been born two genes short- the brand gene and the celebrity gene.

I just boggle that anyone thinks I pay any attention to advertising or to what celebrities think I should like!

[craftyailz.livejournal.com]

You could have asked me - and that would have saved the clock that you knocked off and broke while checking the brand of air freshener. :-))

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I didn't like to bother you....

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I avoid advertising as much as I'm able. When I catch some (or it catches me) I generally shout at it.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

Well, goodness, I didn't know you two knew each other!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We've been friends for years. :)

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I agree with you 100%. I am brand loyal to one thing only and that's to a certain clothes washing detergent. I've tried many and this one is the only one that doesn't clog our drains with phosphate blobs. Otherwise I have store brands a-plenty and hardly ever bother to even look at adverts.

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

I notice ads I don't like, and stop buying brands accordingly. There are few brands I am loyal to, and when I am, it's because I've tried the product and like it a lot. At the moment I can't think of any.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There are certain branded foodstuffs I remain faithful to.

I can think of Marmite and Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce- and that's about it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I can't think of any ads I like.

[chochiyo-sama.livejournal.com]

You seriously can't tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi?

Coke is far superior. Pepsi a flat, slimey, pallid pretender.

LOL.

I like the way Irish Spring soap smells, so I buy that.

I like the way Jergens hand lotion smells (like cherries or almonds) so I buy that.

I don't like the smell of fake lemon, so I don't buy anything scented like lemons.

When possible, I buy anything that has no added scent or color. Except for soap and hand lotion. (See above.) Generally, I buy what is cheapest, as well--so long as it doesn't violate any of my principals.

I also avoid products associated with the Koch brothers under most circumstances.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

If you gave me a glass of fizzy sugary red stuff and asked me to say if was Coke or Pepsi I wouldn't have a clue.

We're on a budget. Like you we generally go for what is cheapest.

[chochiyo-sama.livejournal.com]

It would be neither, as Coke and Pepsi are brown in color. Not red. :)