In one of the last conversations I had with my Grandfather he kept harping on how his hands looked old. He complained that his hands reminded him of a 90 year old man. "But PopPop...you are 88 years old...that is why your hands look the way they do". He replied, "Oh..that's right. I keep forgetting that I am old." My grandfather always felt decades younger than his biological age. In most consumer behavior studies it has shown that most individuals view themselves at least ten years younger than their real age. More and more products position themselves to fight off or repair the aging process. The words "age-defying" or "age- correction" are thrown around constantly on consumer products. My question is what products make you feel younger and what is the age that people are considered old?
Personally I am happy to be at my current age (36) and thankful to not have to be the young parent again. I no longer need a minivan, strollers, diaper bags, and have finally entered a part of my life where I can be a bit selfish. I can purchase products based on my likes and not always have to consider the children. Back to the minivan.....no one really desires a minivan. The convenience, storage and cup holders are like a siren song to the newly minted parent. Fortunately I can now purchase a car again to reflect my internal age....a car that is fun, powerful and has a awesome sound system. I have actually felt more like a twenty-something in the last two years than ever before. Perhaps it is because I can actually get sleep (no more sleep deprivation due to babies crying). It is though I have been able to recover some of my youth again in music (no more Wiggles), clothing (No more pregnancy clothes), and cars (the dreaded minivan is long gone).
Age has been a huge issue in our home this year due to the fact my husband turned forty. I sometimes have problems believing that I am married to a forty year old.....is forty old? My husband thinks so. He had a mini mid life crisis. Fortunately it did not result in a corvette, mistress or wild spending sprees. It did make him stop and examine his life. And for that I think aging is priceless. With age comes experience, learning and perspective. A company can't sell that to you...nor can you erase that with some product.
As I push ahead and the wrinkles become more plentiful I wonder how much I will resort to purchasing products to help me fight the aging process. It is hard to age in a society where a 45 year old woman (Demi Moore) looks like one of my freshman students. The best medicine that I have for feeling youthful again is to go do anything with my kids. I get to relive all the fun times with them. Plus it gives me an excuse to go on a roller coaster, jump a wave, ride bikes, and act like a Pirate. If that can't make you feel young...than nothing else can!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
What makes a Marketing Professor Happy!
After leaving my twelve years of corporate marketing working for companies such as Dial, Nielsen, Pillsbury and Mattel Toys I knew that I needed to find a job to combine my love of marketing and teaching. Low and behold....teaching marketing in a college setting. I am now going on my eighth year of teaching and have to say that I love it as it brings me so much satisfaction. With school starting next week I have put together a short list for students and former students on HOW TO MAKE ME HAPPY:
1) Show up to Class....Not complicated...not hard. It is so much more fun having actually people to interact with than empty seats.
2) Participate...Don't just raise your hand and give a one word answer. Please offer your insight. Believe it or not but I like to learn from you too. My favorite and best students usually are part of a give and take relationship. This means that I have learned just as much from them as they have from me.
3) Don't Cheat. You would think in this day and age students would get the seriousness of this action. No. Every semester I have to deal with students copying homework.....trying to cheat with a cell phone. I have two kids.....I do have eyes in the back of my head and I will catch you.
4) Give me good feedback. I also look for students to communciate with me about how the class is running. Thoughtful, intelligent feedback makes me better and since you are paying for the class....will only make the product you purchased - better.
4) Once you leave my classroom....keep in touch. I love it when former students email me about a marketing promotion they saw recently that offended them or one that impressed them. Please also remember to network. With those years of corporate experience comes many avenues that I can help you navigate. If approached correctly I would be more than happy to help you down the road to your dream job.
I also have developed some wonderful friendships and mentorships with some of my ex-students. A few I count as my closest friends. I was able to help one former student land his dream job right out of school with a salary of 80K. So remember treat us right and we may be able to make you rich....if not educate you.
1) Show up to Class....Not complicated...not hard. It is so much more fun having actually people to interact with than empty seats.
2) Participate...Don't just raise your hand and give a one word answer. Please offer your insight. Believe it or not but I like to learn from you too. My favorite and best students usually are part of a give and take relationship. This means that I have learned just as much from them as they have from me.
3) Don't Cheat. You would think in this day and age students would get the seriousness of this action. No. Every semester I have to deal with students copying homework.....trying to cheat with a cell phone. I have two kids.....I do have eyes in the back of my head and I will catch you.
4) Give me good feedback. I also look for students to communciate with me about how the class is running. Thoughtful, intelligent feedback makes me better and since you are paying for the class....will only make the product you purchased - better.
4) Once you leave my classroom....keep in touch. I love it when former students email me about a marketing promotion they saw recently that offended them or one that impressed them. Please also remember to network. With those years of corporate experience comes many avenues that I can help you navigate. If approached correctly I would be more than happy to help you down the road to your dream job.
I also have developed some wonderful friendships and mentorships with some of my ex-students. A few I count as my closest friends. I was able to help one former student land his dream job right out of school with a salary of 80K. So remember treat us right and we may be able to make you rich....if not educate you.
Why I Worry about Little Girls.....
The marketing of clothing for children has increased tremendously over the last twenty years. Clothing has always been a way to rebel and express yourself. I remember girls at thirteen dressing like Madonna.....now though....it is the five year old girls that would want to dress like her. I have also been blessed with seeing how a little boy versus a little girl have to grow up in this new world.
My first born son was a very intelligent, sweet and emotional baby and toddler. He made friends easily and even to this day is not shy about entering a room and talking with complete strangers. I heard early rumblings in my son's preschool class from the teachers concerning the girl clothing issues occurring in class. Eventually I was pulled aside by the preschool teacher and told that I needed to witness something that was occurring daily to my son. As the three year olds were coming into class and taking their seats....certain little girls would go up to my son and massage their asses and ask him if their butt looked cute in their pants. Now my three year old son barely looked up from his blocks and shrugged his shoulders. Since she did not get the response she wanted she moved onto to the next little boy. I got my first lesson in the dawn of little girldom.....they grow up way faster and are more aggressive.
I later found out that due to the marketing of sexy clothes AKA Brittney Spears tramp clothes....preschool girls were caring more about their ass than their ABCs. I overhead a conversation a few weeks later waiting to pick my son up from school. One of the Moms was fretting because she couldn't find the thong her daughter wanted for her FOURTH birthday. It was that day that I swore that I wouldn't survive raising a daughter in this day and age. The overt sexiness of little girl clothes drives me crazy. I am a huge fan of Healthtex because the company dresses girls like little girls.
Fast forward six months later and low and behold I get pregnant ...with a GIRL. I promise myself to keep her little and innocent as long as I can....even if that means hiding her in the basement until she is eighteen. My path of innocence lasts until my four year old little girl turns out to my the tallest little girl on the percentage charts. In fact she looks like a seven year old and clothes now become an issue. I have to hunt to find appropriate clothing that isn't too short or too tight. Retailers make it difficult to do so and find ebay my best friend.
I worry more about raising my daughter in this day and age versus my son. Already the four and five year old girls have separated themselves into cliques...it is the Mean Girls of the preschool set. My son's friends meanwhile will hang with anyone who has a soccer ball, bike, a Wii or likes Star Wars.
I try to keep my daughter's life filled with play, sports and education. She still hits me up with questions like "Mom...when will my big breasts come in.....or How long will it take for me to finally grow a penis?" I don't mind answering her questions as long as she doesn't ask me for a thong for her fifth birthday.
My first born son was a very intelligent, sweet and emotional baby and toddler. He made friends easily and even to this day is not shy about entering a room and talking with complete strangers. I heard early rumblings in my son's preschool class from the teachers concerning the girl clothing issues occurring in class. Eventually I was pulled aside by the preschool teacher and told that I needed to witness something that was occurring daily to my son. As the three year olds were coming into class and taking their seats....certain little girls would go up to my son and massage their asses and ask him if their butt looked cute in their pants. Now my three year old son barely looked up from his blocks and shrugged his shoulders. Since she did not get the response she wanted she moved onto to the next little boy. I got my first lesson in the dawn of little girldom.....they grow up way faster and are more aggressive.
I later found out that due to the marketing of sexy clothes AKA Brittney Spears tramp clothes....preschool girls were caring more about their ass than their ABCs. I overhead a conversation a few weeks later waiting to pick my son up from school. One of the Moms was fretting because she couldn't find the thong her daughter wanted for her FOURTH birthday. It was that day that I swore that I wouldn't survive raising a daughter in this day and age. The overt sexiness of little girl clothes drives me crazy. I am a huge fan of Healthtex because the company dresses girls like little girls.
Fast forward six months later and low and behold I get pregnant ...with a GIRL. I promise myself to keep her little and innocent as long as I can....even if that means hiding her in the basement until she is eighteen. My path of innocence lasts until my four year old little girl turns out to my the tallest little girl on the percentage charts. In fact she looks like a seven year old and clothes now become an issue. I have to hunt to find appropriate clothing that isn't too short or too tight. Retailers make it difficult to do so and find ebay my best friend.
I worry more about raising my daughter in this day and age versus my son. Already the four and five year old girls have separated themselves into cliques...it is the Mean Girls of the preschool set. My son's friends meanwhile will hang with anyone who has a soccer ball, bike, a Wii or likes Star Wars.
I try to keep my daughter's life filled with play, sports and education. She still hits me up with questions like "Mom...when will my big breasts come in.....or How long will it take for me to finally grow a penis?" I don't mind answering her questions as long as she doesn't ask me for a thong for her fifth birthday.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Marketing of Everything...to Kids
Lately I have just overwhelmed by how much marketing is directed at kids. I am not speaking of twixters, tweens or Gen Y. The marketing I am talking about is directed at eight years of age and under. As a marketing professor I am constantly asking my kids (Age 4 and 8): How did you hear about this? or Where did you see this advertised?
My eight year old is of course influenced tremendously by his peers. I wouldn't call it peer pressure. Instead I call it "The First Syndrome". Kids this age want to be the first to have the latest game, video, toy or be the first to see the hot movie. It is exhausting keeping up with their interests and demands. I try and think back to what kind of consumer I was at his age. Garbage pail kids, Hello Kitty and stickers were big. Now he has Bionicles, Pokemon and NeoShifters. These toys come out with new product lines every three months and the marketing of the product is so far reaching. The books, website, video, interactive games, fast food promotions are the norm for every toy launch or movie premiere.
My four year old will recognize products in stores and calmly reiterate the marketing message that she heard on the TV. Her favorite product is the infomercial of Mighty Putty. Anytime I can not solve a problem around the house....she is right there to explain how I should buy Mighty Putty and solve my problem.
One of the last books I read on consumer behavior in kids said that most five year olds can name 1,000 brands. Sometimes I wish that I could escape with my kids to a tropical island and ban all media :)
My eight year old is of course influenced tremendously by his peers. I wouldn't call it peer pressure. Instead I call it "The First Syndrome". Kids this age want to be the first to have the latest game, video, toy or be the first to see the hot movie. It is exhausting keeping up with their interests and demands. I try and think back to what kind of consumer I was at his age. Garbage pail kids, Hello Kitty and stickers were big. Now he has Bionicles, Pokemon and NeoShifters. These toys come out with new product lines every three months and the marketing of the product is so far reaching. The books, website, video, interactive games, fast food promotions are the norm for every toy launch or movie premiere.
My four year old will recognize products in stores and calmly reiterate the marketing message that she heard on the TV. Her favorite product is the infomercial of Mighty Putty. Anytime I can not solve a problem around the house....she is right there to explain how I should buy Mighty Putty and solve my problem.
One of the last books I read on consumer behavior in kids said that most five year olds can name 1,000 brands. Sometimes I wish that I could escape with my kids to a tropical island and ban all media :)
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