Goodbye

After taking consumer behavior this semester, I am more aware of marketing. For example, I focus on what brands are at eye level when food shopping. While I was there I noticed Cambell's new label. I am also more aware of my high and low involvement products. I spend so much time thinking about buying a new car, but I don't spend any time or effort when buying paper.

I am a big Apple fan and now I always think of how the Ipod became so successful. I in general think about how a product becomes so successful. I know a product must be relevant and salient, but how does everything come about. It is amazing how the Yellow Livestrong bracelet goes from nonexistent to mainstream.

It is also amazing how personable marketers get and how much they need to know about us. Like peoples demographics, culture, social class, emotions, and life projects. Like when you give your zipcode when you purchase something at a store, they try to get information to more understand their customers. When I go shopping I think about everything I buy I am definitely a think, feel, act buyer. Every time I buy a shirt a think about should I buy it, try it on and ask my friends, and then buy it.
The list goes on and on for the things I have learned this semester. I completely am aware of things I never was before.

Kissing consumer behavior goodbye.

Reference Groups

Reference groups are persons, groups, and institutions one uses as points of reference. The following link is a YMCA ad that uses reference group influence.

http://vimeo.com/11177765

The 2 types of groups that the ad is a part of is secondary and membership. In the secondary groups the contact is infrequent, and the norms of the group are considered less biding or obligatory. In the ad it shows examples of people who go to Mt. Madonna YMCA and are asking people to join. The only thing is the YMCA isn't a huge part of peoples lives that is why it is influenced by secondary groups.

The other group the ad is influenced by is membership groups. Membership groups are those in which an individual claiming to be a member is so recognized by the head and key group members, even when the membership is informal. The YMCA is a group that makes you feel like you are part of a family and people know who you are. Their slogan is, "We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities." Once you join the YMCA you are part of that community.

I am an achiever/experiencer, how about you?

The primary category from my VALS results said I was an achiever. An achiever has goal-oriented lifestyles and a deep commitment to career and family. Their social lives revolve around family and their place of worship. Image is important to them and time-saving devices. The secondary category from my VALS results said I was an experiencer. An experiencer is an impulsive consumer and seek excitement and are risky. Their energy finds outlet in exercise and sports. They buy stuff that makes them look "cool".

After that has been said, I believe I am definitely an achiever, but not so much an experiencer. The achiever hit it perfectly. Being an only child, family is a big part of my life. We tend to go shopping with each other or we are buying things for each other. Religion is also important to me. I went to church every Sunday and went to Catholic school K-12. Image is very important to me and I want to present myself in a respectful way. As for the experiencer, I am not an impulsive consumer. I don't live on the edge, I plan out everything. I don't tend to take risks. The only thing that I can relate to is I have a lot of energy and I am big on exercise. I live at the gym, being a Spin instructor and a dance choreographer. I love sports and love to be moving. 

Your life projects are significant goals and major events that we strive to bring to fruition. Being an achiever some of my life projects are I want to graduate and find a job. I want to get married and have a big family. I want to live a part of my life in Southie in an Irish Catholic neighborhood. I want to have a nice job, so my kids can have a well off life. These are just some of my life projects, lets see if they come true...

Attleboro

Having grown and raised in Attleboro, MA I would say my family cluster is Kids & Cul-de-sacs. Attleboro is a small city near Foxboro. There are large families in recently built subdivisions. The city is growing and getting better every year. I went to Catholic school my whole life and didn't really notice it as a child, but there is a high rate of Hispanic people. Also, having the train station in the center of Attleboro a lot of parents work in Boston or are college-educated. My Mom chose to live in Attleboro because it was half way between Boston and Walpole. My Mom took the train in everyday to work in the bank. Growing up, my street had tons of kids. It was kids central. Attleboro was a cute town and I enjoyed growing up near Providence and Boston.

Pictures

After reading "The Liminal Experience: Loss of Extended Self After the Fire" I felt horrible and tried to put myself in her shoes. I think if there was every a fire in my house, I would lose a part of me. A possession that is closely tied to my sense of identity is my photos. Growing up I loved taking pictures, I was a diva. My Dad always brought a camera to every dance recital, basketball game, school field trip, and family vacation. We captured every fun and sad memory. We made collages and calendars as gifts to each other at Christmas time. When I have free time I sit on the couch and go through them all to remember the good old times. My pictures are a huge part of my identity and if I were to every lose them I would be heartbroken. It would be like erasing part of my life. I cherish every photo and every memory, either good or bad. Like the couple who lost their house, I would feel a bit lost. Pictures help you remember your past and help share it with others. You would have to remember things based purely on memories stored in your brain. I want to be able to show my children my wonderful childhood and how I was brought up. Like they say, "A picture speaks a thousand words". 

Priming

 

One example of priming in my life is through my Uncle Chris' new 2011 Mustang. My Uncle Chris is my Godfather and a very important part of my life. He always updates me on the new "cool" things in his life. Recently, he bought a beautiful silver 2011 Mustang. The interior is fabulous and drives so smoothly. I adore the car. On a side note I am not a car person. I don't know anything about cars. I am horrible when it comes to that stuff, but I am very invested in this car. When I am driving around, I now notice Mustangs and am excited when I see one. I judge them now, comparing them to my Uncles. I have been primed to recognize a car like his because of the experience of getting to drive in it and being emotionally attached to it. Before I never noticed cars, now I feel like I Mustangs all the time. Hopefully I will inherit his Mustang or his 1964 red Corvette. One can only dream...

Joining In/Staying Out

One group I religiously belong to is Dunkin' Donuts. "America runs on Dunkin'.'' I am dedicated to them and would never "cheat" on them with Starbucks. I am that die hard New Englander who supports loves when the pumpkin muffins come out in the Fall and loves to see the stores on every corner. They are know for their fabulous coffee and those orange and pink signs. They stand out from all the others because they are affordable, your store next door, and their New England flair. Everything is fresh and they are supporters of my favorite teams. I am part of the wicked good community and will always support them. Walker talks about community vs. individuality and you don't have to participate in the community in order to be part of it. I love Dunkin', but I hate coffee. I am still an individual within the community. I am a tea and donut lover.


One brand I will not associate with is Abercrombie. I think they are inappropriate and if I was a Mother I would not want my children wearing their clothes. I don't like the sex image they portray and I don't think it's tasteful. Their clothes are made so small that not your average person could fit in them. When you go into Abercrombie's store they ask only "pretty" people to work for them and it is sad. Abercrombie is sending the wrong image to kids and teenagers. I would never associate myself with a tasteless brand.

The Pretty Good Problem

One of my most "remarkable" items I have bought is my Irish Red Sox shirt. I am a die hard Red Sox fan, having both of my parents growing up in Boston. Once I graduate from college I am looking into moving into Southie (South Boston). I am proud of my Irish heritage and when I found this t-shirt I fell in love. My two favorite things were represented in this fabulous shirt. I wear it all the time and I like how it is unique. Not everyone has one and it represents who I am. It was worth every penny!!

Lala life goes on...

A few years back my my Nana passed away, my Dad and I were sitting in the car in the funeral procession. We were just reflecting on the day and life. My Dad said something that made me go huh, but in a sad way. My Dad asked me if I noticed when my Nana passed away nothing stopped, people just carry on with their day. When peoples loved ones pass away, Dunkin Donuts doesn't shut down and school doesn't close. It is just sad that life just carries on once someone dies. In a way you want everything to stop and you want everyone to reflect on the passing of your loved one.


As the Beatles stated, "Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on."

The Power of Memories

Pencil: 99 cents
Memories: Priceless


My family goes to the Cape every year for the 4th of July. My greatest memories as a child are down the cape going to Mayflower beach, the enormous fireworks, and a delicious ice cream at Sundae School. One thing I did not have was a pencil! This past summer when I was in Dennis I found this fabulous pencil. Why am I excited about a 99 cent pencil? I forgot to mention I have a collection of over 500. They are from all around the world, not sharpened, and have never been used. I can tell you where I got most of them and they remind me of the good times in my life. Buying the pencil from Dennis reminds me of all the great times my family have in the Cape.

True Life: My name is Elizabeth

I am a Marketing major with a passion for service. I coordinated Community Connections this summer and I am excited to continue to pursue community service. I live by what JFK said, "One person can make a difference, and everyone should try."