Marketing and Politics - It's All the Same
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 10:14 pm
Marketing is the art/pseudo science of selling something that was advertised but often does not meet the customer’s expectations. It may be downsizing the product in a bigger box with “New and Improved” or other words to deceive. It can involve reducing the size of the container without obviously appearing to do so. Sell a million at a 5% savings in quantity and you have made an additional 5% on the top line. Not bad. Each savings on volume means more profit.
A pound of coffee was once 16 oz. Now it is 12 oz. Can size is the same but volume is 25% less and the price goes up. We have accepted the new size because no one objected. We bought it instead of punching a hole in the top of the can so the retailer had to return it to the distributor. Hey, there’s an idea – punch a hole in the can. You all do have Swiss Army Knives, right?
Two recent examples are from Reddi Whip (offered previously at 15 oz. and now in the same size can at 13 oz. with a price increase. I should have taken a picture of the previous can.
Now Hormel, which has eliminated it’s round containers for some more compact ones which appear to be round. Not for your convenience in handling but for greater profit. These marketing people are obviously learning from politicians. What you expect from advertising is not what you get in reality. You get whatever they can push on you, gradually, so that you may not notice.
There is an old story about the Pole who had salami and a Russian wanted it. He didn’t just take it but sliced of a little and took it. Not enough to start a war over. Much like Putin in the Crimea. He came back later and sliced off some more. Not enough to start a war over – but you know where this ends. The Russian had the whole salami. Russians, politicians and marketers do what they do.
As when my wife became angry because our dog grabbed her hamburger (which she sat on a coffee table in front of the dog) and I told her that dogs do what dogs do. It wasn’t the dog to blame but the one who created the opportunity. She still blamed the dog. There is a lesson here for those who read and perceive and do nothing. For those who don’t learn, your hamburger, like the salami will soon be gone. And you’ll blame the dog not your own inaction by ignoring the problem.
I can understand that. “Hey, one slice of the salami is no big deal.” Nor is one rape of the wife or the daughter. No big deal, right?
If you have access to Obama please forward this.
A pound of coffee was once 16 oz. Now it is 12 oz. Can size is the same but volume is 25% less and the price goes up. We have accepted the new size because no one objected. We bought it instead of punching a hole in the top of the can so the retailer had to return it to the distributor. Hey, there’s an idea – punch a hole in the can. You all do have Swiss Army Knives, right?
Two recent examples are from Reddi Whip (offered previously at 15 oz. and now in the same size can at 13 oz. with a price increase. I should have taken a picture of the previous can.
Now Hormel, which has eliminated it’s round containers for some more compact ones which appear to be round. Not for your convenience in handling but for greater profit. These marketing people are obviously learning from politicians. What you expect from advertising is not what you get in reality. You get whatever they can push on you, gradually, so that you may not notice.
There is an old story about the Pole who had salami and a Russian wanted it. He didn’t just take it but sliced of a little and took it. Not enough to start a war over. Much like Putin in the Crimea. He came back later and sliced off some more. Not enough to start a war over – but you know where this ends. The Russian had the whole salami. Russians, politicians and marketers do what they do.
As when my wife became angry because our dog grabbed her hamburger (which she sat on a coffee table in front of the dog) and I told her that dogs do what dogs do. It wasn’t the dog to blame but the one who created the opportunity. She still blamed the dog. There is a lesson here for those who read and perceive and do nothing. For those who don’t learn, your hamburger, like the salami will soon be gone. And you’ll blame the dog not your own inaction by ignoring the problem.
I can understand that. “Hey, one slice of the salami is no big deal.” Nor is one rape of the wife or the daughter. No big deal, right?
If you have access to Obama please forward this.
