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Tuesday, November 29, 2005

 

TRADEMARK, BRANDING, STEALING

I apologize for not posting more often; it does have the advantage of giving me time to think over subjects to post about and edit them properly.

There’s this soft drink that I love. Actually not to trample the very first rule of the (in)famous 12 steps, am addicted to.
I’m not talking about coca cola, which I consume in bigger measures than healthy but a brand of Orange Juice mixed with a couple of other fruits, no grapes of course.
Tropical mixes of juice are readily available from hundreds of brands, but this is the only one that I want (hou hou hou).
I’m not much of a brand person in general. Shirts, clothing, electric instruments, cars, Hollywood and the music world I usually couldn’t care less..
I rarely follow any sort of hype. I like the music that I choose; I don’t listen to the radio waiting for their subliminal messages ordering me which music to enjoy and buy.
I buy a pair of shoes that fit me and suit me, not because a TV ad said I must. As a matter of fact the Hemische store I frequent probably doesn’t even carry most advertised shoes. And I wouldn’t dream of selecting my car just on the basis that James Bond drove with it in his latest lackluster.

My wife and I argue every time I have the bad luck to accompany her on a shopping spree.
She says she needs that skirt or that pair of boots, because they’re the latest fashion
The latest fashion! How I hate that sentence.
With the free spirited attitude of women today, you would think they wouldn’t let some Italian guy dictate them what to wear?
Why is something from last year, that still fits no good anymore? The colors have changed? The style has changed? Who cares? Aren’t (nice!) clothes meant to be a means of coverage in the first place?
Isn’t clothes primary function to shelter us from the cold and other elements?
I know the female readers might think I’m irrational, and for the record my wife wears the latest fashion. Those that are affordable that is.


I’ve bought an mp3 player from a totally unknown brand and hadn’t I lost it, heaven knows where, it would still work perfectly. It was one of 256MB(approx 70 songs), had I bought one from Sony in the same price range I would’ve gotten a 128MG one (40 songs). Twice the music for the same price, its look is less flashy, I’ll give you that.

My reading glasses (2+, any eyeglasses mate?) cost about $2,50. True, I don’t always look so good in them, but there’s no stress about losing or breaking them. My friend who’s an optician, attempted to convince me to buy a pair in his store, knowing that he could use the money, I acquiesced and paid $200 for the same, confirmed by the optometrist, object.
I do have a nicer frame now, but am terrified to loose or damage it.

Orange juices tastes differently, it has a real functional benefit, most other categories of consumption, especially jewelry, merely serve to fulfill an emotional/ psychological (psychosocial in marketing jargon) benefit.
I am very aware of the importance of self esteem and feeling good about oneself. I have read all of Rabbi Twerski’s, who’s an expert on the issues of self esteem, books and agree on many points with him.
If however you need a $2000 watch and follow the latest trends in all areas to make you feel good about yourself, it will probably not help on the long run.
I know this kid who got an Ipod when it was all new and that helped boost his popularity among his peers, now everyone has one and the poor kid needs something new and flashy to draw his classmates attention back to him.
Question of the week, are you into brands and trends? Why and how far are you willing to go?


Comments:
I don't spend a lot of time following trends.I am usually aware of them, but unless there is a compelling reason I don't follow them.

As for brand loyalty that is a different story. Most of the time I have no problem purchasing the generic version but there have been moments where I felt more comfortable with the name brand.
 
Great post.
The obvious reason why the trends change is so that people in the fashion industry can make more money. Think of a tie. In theory you can wear a tie for a good twenty years before it would give away to wear and tear. The only reason we change ties is because taht's what style dictates, thinner, fatter, shorter, longer, stripes, plaids, etc. They have us by the ....... wallets.
I agree that foods or drinks are different. Personal taste dictates there. Perfect examples are ketchup and mayonnaise. I will definitely pay more for Heinz and Hellmans.
So, enlighten us, which juice brand do you favor?
 
I am an admitted trend follower. I am not a big spender, I know how to mix and match stuff, I know how to make something old new again. (Besides vintage is a craze now!) I guess in certain circles it makes no difference if you buy a new sirt because the overall look is the same. But for me, I dress to express myself. I like to dress well for myself as well as my husband. I like to be cutting edge. There is an importance, in my opinion, for a girl to want to look good and even follow the trends. I'd rather have my husband proud to have me on his arm than to gaze at other women who do dress more trendy, as usually is the case.
 
It depends. Sometimes I am, especially with clothing, and somethings I am not. Some brand names of clothing do have better quality, it is a fact. With food, not so much so.

You deserve a gold star! My husband will never go shopping with me. I am not sure I want him to go either as I spend too much money.
 
Prag, , I just realized you are married, so it was an ASS-U-ME.

(refering to my comment on yours, on my last post).

Sowwwwy
 
In general, I am with you, and do not follow trends. I strive for a balance of what is comfortable, what looks good, and what is affordable. Many products I will buy the generic version unless there is a strongly noticeable difference in quality. I pretty much follow my own drummer though..
 
Is the drink Five Alive? Because I used to love that...

As for trends/ brands- I see this at my high school all the time- everyone needs to be wearing 'The North Face'- I'm not sure why, but the North Face is popular/ was popular/ probably will always be popular.

My father doesn't go in for trends-no Ipods in our family, but small mp3 players that work just as well, if not better.

As for brandnames- I think half of what is in the Neiman Marcus, Abercrombie and Fitch and J. Crew catalogues is ugly. It's your own personal style that matters- not fashion.
 
I am a woman and no, I am not into trends or designers. I have some clothes I've had for 10+ years.

I buy clothes because I like them. Period. I don't run out and buy the latest styles just because they are the latest. (So often, they are ugly anyway).

I have never been one to be a sheep.
 
Jack-Where hygiene products are concerned I feel the same way.

Eshet-Well that’s one of the main tools of the marketers, the need people have to conform

A frum-I have ties and use them interchangeably, the brand I favour is Minute Maid, I don't know if it's a known brand in the states.

Frumgirl-I need you to spend some time with my wife teaching her exactly how to mix and match!

Barbara-Thanks for the star, unfortunately I'm not so deserving, when I go along I get very impatient.

The Real-I'm so gad I have this blog it afford me the chance to meet people who think like me, I’ve found one with this post!!

Mocchy-It's ok no problem, you stil entitled to your opinion.

Mcaryeh-Where the quality I obviously superior I don't argue, it's the social extra's that I dispute.

Chanah-thanks for posting, I also have an mp3 player and am perfectly happy with it.

Stacey-I applaud that, you should buy what you want and need not what marketers want you to.
 
Style is a funny thing. I mean it should be pretty frivolous..yet it's real. For example if you were to walk around with a thick pair of plastic glasses from 15 years ago..they'd look bad. Physically bad. What happened? How could they've looked good then and bad now?

Something to ponder..

D
 
Hmm, an interesting question you pose. I think brands and trends are different.

If I buy Ralph Lauren, it's not something trendy, or expensive. Everything I buy is on sale. My friends used to argue with me that I buy a lot of stuff in Gap, where they like to get stuff in Rainbow and Joyce Leslie. However, I explained that I have my price limits for each item, and I pay the same price they pay, and get better quality. I paid $12.99 for some Banana Republic T-shirts--obviously reduced 100x, but if they pay regular price $12.99 in Joyce Leslie...I am still getting a better deal.

AS for the styles...what I like about my wardrobe, and my friends can attest, is that almost nothing I have can really go out of style. I actually bought into the whole prarie skirt phase only bec they're comfortable, loose, and the style actually grew on me after a few months. Everything else I have is denim skirts, black skirts, and plain old regular T-shirts and sweatshirts.

I am not one of those girls who comes to Brooklyn College dressed to kill in stilleto boots and barely-covered knees, and strut down the halls of Boylan Hall.
 
Michelle-Thanks for commenting.
The way you do it is the ideal way in my opinion, not to overspend but shop intelligently.
 
The first thing I become aware of is the colour, then the style, the function and the quality. Many times in the past I have gone out for something specific and returned with something completely different.

Its very difficult to encapsulate or quantify what it is about a certain apparel that speaks to your inner sense.

With some forms, the touch alone generates a feeling of warmth and contentment, others scream out phrases of usefullness or well being or ... that defy the immediate perception.

Classing myself as an inquirical shopper I find that I become drawn to a certain content regardless of brands, a grasp of something within the the external stylised projection.

It is most curious to know that you sense a fit of sorts upon first sight.

Multi Protacular Variate Enhancement.

S(yx).(xy)=MxPxE-R2v3 (sorry but work keeps intruding and have to get it down when it comes or I forget where I'm up to)

SoulScreamers would be a good analogy to use.
 
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