In Response to Ashley Guidi...

"How often do you go into a supermarket and buy exactly what you need?"

     As the oldest of five children, having snacks at home was always a rare occasion, not because no one bought them but because they disappear so quickly.  Because of this issue, I always find myself buying extra when I am out.  In addition to that, effective grocery marketing certainly has quite a bit of influence on my impulse purchases.  I had never really thought about how all the best snacks are on shelves that children see, but now that Ashley has pointed that out I agree completely.  Gushers are one of my favorite fruit snacks and they're always on the 2nd or 3rd row from the bottom.

     So to answer the question more directly, no.  Unless my boyfriend comes into the store with me to make sure I only buy what is on my list, I buy much much more.  Like we discussed in class today, the word SALE really gets me to buy.  90% of my clothing was purchased on sale racks, and about 50% of the things I buy at the grocery store are things that were on sale.

     Touching on what Ashley mentions about how stores put gum and candy right by the check out, I think that I always purchase something from that area.  If it's not gum, it's a chocolate bar.  I don't think that I am the only person who get's sucked into these traps, but I am curious to know if it's more common for females than males?  I feel as though my Boyfriend, and Father always make it in and out of the store - buying less than they intended more often than buying more.  So boys, do the grocery marketing tactics suck you in too?

Um...Winning!

    It's hard to imagine that anyone has been able to shield themselves from the recent television appearances that Charlie Sheen has been in.  From 20/20 to the national and local news stations, everyone seems to be talking about this one of the Two and a Half Men.  In case you haven't heard, the show Two and a Half Men (a popular sitcom that airs on CBS - well, used to).  CBS decided to cancel the show before the most recent season ended, putting Sheen and his co-workers out of work.  They canceled the show when Sheen failed to show up for work on multiple occasions because he was on drugs.  He was taking depressants and hallucination drugs regularly, and didn't stop until one overdose almost killed him.  Sheen has passed drug tests on TV, and seems to be clean but fans are beginning to worry if Sheen is mentally stable.  He has aired an internet TV show about himself which has been looked at by many psychologists whom are now also very concerned about his mental health.

     However, despite his drug use and questionable ethics people still seem to think that he is winning, and according to Sheen, he most certainly is.  He is currently working on suing CBS for canceling the sitcom, living with his girlfriends (he refers to as "the goddesses"), and reviewing applications for his new "Internship;" for which there were over 70,000 applicants.  He is now in the Guinness Book of World Records for the fastest person to get 1,000,000 followers on twitter.

     From a marketing perspective, despite Charlie Sheen's popularity, I still feel as though I wouldn't want this person to represent my product, or television station.  I just can't help but wonder if negative marketing is just as good as positive marketing.  Based on Sheen's success in marketing himself, I absolutely agree with him, he is winning; but are consumers?  Is it a good thing that consumers are paying attention to what Sheen is doing and enjoying it?  Could it be possible that negative marketing is actually effective marketing?

In Response to Stephen Rolfe...

"In today's media, we (this generation) seem to be drawn to those who act a fool and demonstrate less than responsible ways of life....... Do you feel that other generations role models acted this way or are we the beginning of a new look on our figure heads?"

      Although I agree with Stephen when it comes to marketing illegal activities to teens seem to be more widely accepted and portrayed on television, I don't think it was absent from television before our generation.  TV shows in the 70's-80's like Roseanne, Baywatch, Three's Company, etc. also used sex and drug experiences to gain the viewer's interest in the programs.  However, I think that in today's television it is much more glorified.

     As someone who has never really taken part in the "party" scene I still find myself interested in watching other people do it.  I've never been a fan of Jersey Shore, and I honestly don't see the appeal.  Perhaps it's my lack of interest in seeing what 6 unattractive people a few years older than me (that act many years younger) are up to this weekend.  My hope is that people don't really look to these people as role models, but the opposite.
     Shows like 16 and Pregnant however, pose more of a concern for me.  If you have ever seen the show, it tends not to show the true hardships of having a child young.  When my close friend's six year old daughter said "I can't wait until I'm 16 so I can be on this show," my concerns about what is being shown on television began.  I think that without television there will still be an interest in drugs, parties, and sex, but to have teens actually thinking it would be a good idea to get pregnant...we need to begin to worry.  Should television marketing be held to the same standards as product and service marketing?

Narcissistic Websites

     Peter DeLegge wrote an article, which can be found on the Marketing Today website about company websites that are more concerned about promoting themselves than helping the consumer.  He states that it tends to be found more commonly in small to mid sized companies than larger ones, however, I doubt that there are not large companies with similarly poor websites.  Narcissistic websites are those websites that you go to in order to find help with an issue and all that you find are boastful stories and raves about the company.  From a marketing perspective this type of issue on a website could cause huge problems for a company.

     When a consumer is looking for information, or help with a problem, if they don't find it quickly and efficiently they may get the wrong idea about a company.  Of course it is important to talk about the company on the website, especially it's success; but there is a place for that, and it should not be the main focus of a website.  For example, I was recently looking for a screen printing shop to send in a T-shirt order.  The information that I wanted from the companies were options, prices, packages, specials, etc.  I went to a number of websites and had such a hard time finding all of these things in one place that I gave up and am now planning on waiting until I get home over break to use a company that I already know has what I need.  This means, that all of those companies that I reviewed lost a potential customer, and I doubt that I am the first.

     Today, it is easy to find other options when you are unhappy with what you are already using.  Can you think of a time that you have been unimpressed with a Narcissistic website?  If yes, has this ever caused you to take your business elsewhere?  If no, take a look at this website, and see how easy or difficult it is for you to find out how to contact the company for help.