It’s a good thing I checked back on the assignment, because I just realized now that we have to write six blogs opposed to the five I originally thought. Fortunately, I have covered five of the mandatory topics, therefore I get the luxury of writing a free for all as my last entry. I would like to write about particular brands that I really like and how they make me feel. In simpler words, this blog is about my love of shopping. You’ve been warned.
I would like to begin with saying that I hope my future husband shares my interest in lingerie because his credit card is going to play a big part in this aspect of our marriage. Having said that, I absolutely love Victoria’s Secret. It’s almost tough putting into words how this brand makes me feel. Their lingerie is all so beautiful that I get excited walking into the store. Which is uncommon, because sometimes there can be nothing worse then having to find something nice for something so intimate, filled with so much insecurity. For some reason this isn’t an issue for me when I’m in a Victoria’s Secret. It doesn’t matter what kind of body you have, you feel damn sexy in their underwear. I think the addition of curvier models was a very smart move on their part, because it makes every woman feel they can be that girl in the ads even if just for a second. I think their lingerie exudes sexiness, confidence and power. By power I mean, in today’s society where there is so much emphasis placed on being a size 0, its refreshing and empowering to be able to wear something so small and unforgiving and feel that damn good about it. Although, the power you feel over a man isn’t all bad either.
Mango is another brand I love. I can’t walk into that store and not walk out with something. Penelope Cruz is their spokesperson, she is in my opinion one of the all time most beautiful women on this earth, and many disagree with me. I think she is a timeless beauty and the definition of a real woman. She is intelligent and humble and has ridiculous sex appeal. Maybe she is what helps fuel my love of Mango. The clothes are very well priced for its quality, and I just like the stuff they make. It’s different. It’s a European clothing line with Spanish influence. There isn’t a piece I own from them that I haven’t got complimented on. I like that it looks like it cost a fortune, but it didn’t. This is not to say I want to look expensive, it’s saying that I feel smart about my purchases, I look and feel good without paying a huge price.
Christian Louboutin shoes. I don’t own a single pair because I could never afford them at this point in my life, so choosing a huge designer might sound like the biggest contradiction ever considering I just wrote an awe inspiring paragraph about looking good for a good price. When it comes to shopping and fashion I am a firm believer that no rules apply as to what you can and can’t do…well no, that’s kind of a down right lie, I believe that statement to be completely untrue, but the point is this mans shoes do not need any form of justification. He is my inspiration. My motivation. My determination that I will one day be at the point in my life where I will be able to afford his absolutely gorgeous shoes, guilt free, sans the husband’s credit card. The day I slip on a pair of those babies, mark my words it will be the most beautiful eight-hour workday on four inch heals ever. There will exist no such thing as pain, because Louboutin is and will be my symbol of power and accomplishment.
My last brand that I can write about before I get carried away is Guess, or their extension, Marciano. Like Victoria’s Secret, this is another store that just excites me when you walk in because you never know what you are going to find. But, you know you will find something because it’s just that good. If I could define my style, this would be the store I would use to do it. Over priced labels, yes, but so worth it. What I love about this store is that its trendy, but once again you can always find stuff that is timeless, that you can wear for years to come. Guess knows its boundaries, they know exactly where that fine line is that separates a piece from being too much or too little. Guess fashion reminds me so much of my mom and her sisters style when they were growing up, sexy but tasteful. My mom is a timeless beauty, very respected and admired by all and I will do whatever it takes to be anything close to what that woman is. They have lots of colour and everything, from bags to shoes, to watches and swimwear. Everything is cute and I want to buy it all, but unfortunately I can’t. The Guess pieces that I do own are definitely cherished and only ‘going out’ worthy.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that these brands define me as a person. Clothing is just a small part of the whole package that is me. My clothes are like the wrapping paper on the package, they say a lot about me (and I’m a firm believer they should), but they don’t show you what’s inside the package. In fact, I think I’m a bunch of packages, almost too good to be true and you never know what your going to get…or does that make me a box of chocolates? If that has to be the case, I am Lindt Chocolate. Rich, intoxicating, beautiful and Swiss made. I kid, I kid. It’s been fun, peace.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Perfect Story
I would have to say that my favourite brand story is the “Rag to Riches” story. I like it because I think I can relate the best to the brands that portray that story. I like the love stories within branding, when especially the ‘his and hers’ perfumes, but I think what steers me away from them a bit is how too perfect those stories are. Victoria and David Beckham come to mind with their line of his and hers perfumes. While I’m interested in trying Victoria’s perfume because I think she has a fantastic sense of style, I don’t like the brand story so much. It’s easy to fall in love with and get lured into that fancy story, but how realistic is it? David and Victoria are one of the few couples in Hollywood who are still together, but they have loads and loads of money, and they just don’t reflect the average person. Maybe that is the point, a brand love story like David and Victoria’s perfumes can take you away from reality, even if just for a moment.
That is why the Rags to Riches story appeals to me more, because I feel like I can relate to those people more. These were average people that built themselves up from nothing. I get proud when I think of companies like Mac, and I’m proud to own their stuff because it came from hard earned work. Mac all started in a garage, the two Steve’s were just average guys (with above average minds) and built up the empire we see today. Another favourite branding story that I like is JK Rowling’s. She wrote her very first Harry Potter in her car, and look at the empire she has now, she has more money then the Queen of England. I like these stories because these were ordinary people who had the same struggles we do, or sometimes worse, but they rose up. It’s inspiring, because it makes me feel I could do it too.
That is why the Rags to Riches story appeals to me more, because I feel like I can relate to those people more. These were average people that built themselves up from nothing. I get proud when I think of companies like Mac, and I’m proud to own their stuff because it came from hard earned work. Mac all started in a garage, the two Steve’s were just average guys (with above average minds) and built up the empire we see today. Another favourite branding story that I like is JK Rowling’s. She wrote her very first Harry Potter in her car, and look at the empire she has now, she has more money then the Queen of England. I like these stories because these were ordinary people who had the same struggles we do, or sometimes worse, but they rose up. It’s inspiring, because it makes me feel I could do it too.
What does a brands personality really tell the world?
A brand’s personality and what it has to say to the world is a powerful thing. What you buy can say a lot about you, and unfortunately, because we live in a world so full of judgment, people could be assuming things about you, merely by watching what you buy even if you are not taking the brands and what they stand for into consideration. When I started writing this blog, I wanted to say that when I buy food, I look at price and quality when it comes to making my decision, but when I’m buying anything else, clothes for the main part, I take into consideration a lot of what the brand is saying about me when I’m deciding whether I should make my purchase or not. But now it got me thinking, even though I’m buying my food for the price and quality of it, what’s more powerful then what a brand can say about your personality is that people could be drawing conclusions about me just based on what I buy.
If someone were to watch me go grocery shopping they could learn a lot about me, without even looking at the brands I’m buying. I buy meat, so they know I’m not a vegetarian. I buy milk, so they would know I’m not a vegan either. I buy eggs, so if I was being watched by PETA, at this point they would think I’m the biggest animal hater alive. I buy the normal vegetables, not organic, which could mean that I don’t care about the harmful effects the chemicals on the regular veggies could have on my body, nor do I care about things like mass production from giant land eating, earth poisoning, chemical spraying farm factories who are putting all the small local farmers out of business. I buy chocolate, which could mean I’m unhealthy and I have no self-control. I also buy the occasional trashy magazine, which could mean I’m way too caught up in the superficial unimportant things in life. This can all be assumed about me, without even looking at the brands I buy, but the good news is: I’m none of those things! Well, almost.
So what I’ve realized is this: when I’m buying a pair a sneakers, in my mind I’m thinking I want a running shoe that has a lot of support closer to the front of my foot, opposed the back, and I want them built wider, because my feet are not narrow. When I opt for the Nike runner, I’m happy with my decision, I like the feel, the look and I like what Nike says, which is that anyone can do it, you can do it. But an onlooker could be thinking that I’m way to interested in brand names, I pay way too much for a shoe and I clearly don’t care about the children in the sweatshops. So my question is, does it really matter what a brand personality is saying after all? You think one thing, when someone else could be thinking something completely different. But, I guess as far as Nike is concerned, it has already done its job when it made me feel like “I can do anything” in their shoe and bought it. They don’t care what the other person thinks, they care about what you think, which I like.
If someone were to watch me go grocery shopping they could learn a lot about me, without even looking at the brands I’m buying. I buy meat, so they know I’m not a vegetarian. I buy milk, so they would know I’m not a vegan either. I buy eggs, so if I was being watched by PETA, at this point they would think I’m the biggest animal hater alive. I buy the normal vegetables, not organic, which could mean that I don’t care about the harmful effects the chemicals on the regular veggies could have on my body, nor do I care about things like mass production from giant land eating, earth poisoning, chemical spraying farm factories who are putting all the small local farmers out of business. I buy chocolate, which could mean I’m unhealthy and I have no self-control. I also buy the occasional trashy magazine, which could mean I’m way too caught up in the superficial unimportant things in life. This can all be assumed about me, without even looking at the brands I buy, but the good news is: I’m none of those things! Well, almost.
So what I’ve realized is this: when I’m buying a pair a sneakers, in my mind I’m thinking I want a running shoe that has a lot of support closer to the front of my foot, opposed the back, and I want them built wider, because my feet are not narrow. When I opt for the Nike runner, I’m happy with my decision, I like the feel, the look and I like what Nike says, which is that anyone can do it, you can do it. But an onlooker could be thinking that I’m way to interested in brand names, I pay way too much for a shoe and I clearly don’t care about the children in the sweatshops. So my question is, does it really matter what a brand personality is saying after all? You think one thing, when someone else could be thinking something completely different. But, I guess as far as Nike is concerned, it has already done its job when it made me feel like “I can do anything” in their shoe and bought it. They don’t care what the other person thinks, they care about what you think, which I like.
Bring on the Starbucks Liquor
In class when we spoke of brand extensions, we talked about what is a natural and unnatural extension for a brand. Many of us agreed when we said that we don’t like the idea of Wal Mart extending its brand to add boutiques with higher priced items, and McDonalds making cafes. What we didn’t agree on so much was the Starbucks brand extension, which was the addition of coffee liquors into its line. Those who didn’t agree said that they felt it was too much and made the appeal of Starbucks wear off and look cheaper. Here is my two cents on the recent choices Starbucks has made.
I don’t like Starbucks coffee particularly, which is unfortunate because I love everything else about the company. Their pumpkin spice latte and cookies are amazing and worth every overpriced dime. I have never had bad service, and what’s the best part is when they actually think they are giving you bad service, they hand you a voucher for your next Starbucks purchase. I don’t know any other place that owns up to bad service without being told first. I get handed these vouchers every now and then and I love it, because it’s like getting a little present. The voucher has the little apologetic note on it, and I’m suppost to think “aw, so nice”, but inside my head I’m doing a little happy dance, cause I’m getting anything I want for free, and I don’t even know why. I also love the atmosphere and the coziness of Starbucks, its special. I think their retail area always has cute stuff and finally I think they are marketing a genius…
Well used to be until recently, when in the past two years they’ve taken a liking to attaching themselves to gas stations and Subways in rural developments. I think they run the risk of selling themselves out if they keep building in places that don’t reflect their roots. Starbucks started as a small coffee shop in urban areas, they had a limited number of them and that’s what made them so special, but now you see them everywhere. I fear a Tim Horton’s vibe coming along, meaning mainly I hope they don’t become like Tim Horton’s.
With the addition of coffee liquors into their line, I actually don’t mind that at all. Some people find that this takes away from selling coffee itself and makes them look like they are selling themselves out. I completely disagree. In every part of Europe it is absolutely normal to add liquor into your coffee. I spent six weeks in Switzerland this summer and there was not a day that went by where I wasn’t asked if I preferred crème or liquor in my coffee. In Switzerland, they add plum schnapps or kirsche into their coffee, or just crème. They call a coffee with schnapps in it a ‘kaffee fertig’. The translation for that would be ‘coffee finished’, so when you order one, you would say, “I’ll have a finished coffee.” This is like saying that your coffee is not ‘finished’ unless there is liquor in it. Here, it’s not finished if it’s lacking the cream. I guess what I’m saying, is that I was surprised people were against the addition of coffee liquors as a brand extension, when I just found it to be a very natural addition to Starbucks. I personally think it’s a shame that Starbucks and other coffee shops can’t have a license to sell alcohol, so that they would have the option of selling dessert coffees. I think it would make it that much more special to go to Starbucks and having the option to have a dessert coffee or just a regular one. I understand that with the rules in place this can’t happen, but I do think it would be nice. The other thing too is, because we’ve never had the option to add a little booze into our coffees at lunch, people might abuse it if we had that right. The idea is to just have a little something extra when you’re reading your book, something special, not to get drunk.
To sum it up, I do think Starbucks does need to watch where they are now building their cafes, and it would be nice if they came out with a blend that wasn’t so damn beanie, but I will happily continue to indulge in my guilty pleasure and accept vouchers for their supposed ‘screw ups’. Besides, who needs liquor and non-beanie coffee anyways, when you’ve got Pumpkin Spice Lattes, the answer to all of life’s problems.
I don’t like Starbucks coffee particularly, which is unfortunate because I love everything else about the company. Their pumpkin spice latte and cookies are amazing and worth every overpriced dime. I have never had bad service, and what’s the best part is when they actually think they are giving you bad service, they hand you a voucher for your next Starbucks purchase. I don’t know any other place that owns up to bad service without being told first. I get handed these vouchers every now and then and I love it, because it’s like getting a little present. The voucher has the little apologetic note on it, and I’m suppost to think “aw, so nice”, but inside my head I’m doing a little happy dance, cause I’m getting anything I want for free, and I don’t even know why. I also love the atmosphere and the coziness of Starbucks, its special. I think their retail area always has cute stuff and finally I think they are marketing a genius…
Well used to be until recently, when in the past two years they’ve taken a liking to attaching themselves to gas stations and Subways in rural developments. I think they run the risk of selling themselves out if they keep building in places that don’t reflect their roots. Starbucks started as a small coffee shop in urban areas, they had a limited number of them and that’s what made them so special, but now you see them everywhere. I fear a Tim Horton’s vibe coming along, meaning mainly I hope they don’t become like Tim Horton’s.
With the addition of coffee liquors into their line, I actually don’t mind that at all. Some people find that this takes away from selling coffee itself and makes them look like they are selling themselves out. I completely disagree. In every part of Europe it is absolutely normal to add liquor into your coffee. I spent six weeks in Switzerland this summer and there was not a day that went by where I wasn’t asked if I preferred crème or liquor in my coffee. In Switzerland, they add plum schnapps or kirsche into their coffee, or just crème. They call a coffee with schnapps in it a ‘kaffee fertig’. The translation for that would be ‘coffee finished’, so when you order one, you would say, “I’ll have a finished coffee.” This is like saying that your coffee is not ‘finished’ unless there is liquor in it. Here, it’s not finished if it’s lacking the cream. I guess what I’m saying, is that I was surprised people were against the addition of coffee liquors as a brand extension, when I just found it to be a very natural addition to Starbucks. I personally think it’s a shame that Starbucks and other coffee shops can’t have a license to sell alcohol, so that they would have the option of selling dessert coffees. I think it would make it that much more special to go to Starbucks and having the option to have a dessert coffee or just a regular one. I understand that with the rules in place this can’t happen, but I do think it would be nice. The other thing too is, because we’ve never had the option to add a little booze into our coffees at lunch, people might abuse it if we had that right. The idea is to just have a little something extra when you’re reading your book, something special, not to get drunk.
To sum it up, I do think Starbucks does need to watch where they are now building their cafes, and it would be nice if they came out with a blend that wasn’t so damn beanie, but I will happily continue to indulge in my guilty pleasure and accept vouchers for their supposed ‘screw ups’. Besides, who needs liquor and non-beanie coffee anyways, when you’ve got Pumpkin Spice Lattes, the answer to all of life’s problems.
They don’t make’em like they used to.
For the sake of the Critters, whom I have heard deemed boring by today’s society, I am arguing that I don’t feel they make them like they used to. It seems the new age brand characters just lack that ‘certain something’ that makes them spark and makes them memorable and able to break through the clutter. When I think of Mr. Clean, I feel like he belongs in my home, almost like he is a part of the family. But, when I think of Geico the Gecko, although cute and witty, he is only an acquaintance and I’m not sure he will ever surpass a casual friend status. Unlike Mr. Clean, I don’t want him hanging around my home. I understand the need to be fair in my assessment, taking into consideration that Mr. Clean is old enough to be Gecko’s grandfather. He has years of history over the lizard, but either way, I don’t think he will go down in history the same way Mr. Clean will. When I look back in fifty years, I would put my money on Mr. Clean as the one I remember and possibly the one that’s still around. This has nothing to do with favouring Mr. Clean either, I just find his simplicity appealing and trustworthy, he gives me a good feeling.
To argue my point further, I will use Disney as my example. I understand that Disney characters are not brand mascots, (arguably they could be, especially Mickey), but they are not used for the same purposes as a brand character. For the sake of this argument, they can still be used in the same context as critters, because they have been created from the imagination for people’s enjoyment. Having said that, I believe that Disney characters no longer have that special magic they once had, that makes them memorable either. Don’t think that I don’t love Pixar and the stuff they are coming out with now, the company absolutely fascinates me. I like almost all their movies; they are smart, adorable and witty. But, no matter how much I laughed at the genius of the penguins in Madagascar, I still feel they are lacking that same certain something that today’s critters lack to make them forever memorable. I will raise the same question as I did with the critters: Will you remember Cinderella in fifty years, or will you remember Nemo? No matter how many times you hear the Cinderella story, you’re enchanted, it never grows old. Its not just the Cinderella stories either, there is Pinocchio, Bambi, Dumbo, Fox & the Hound, The Lion King, I could go on. Like jeans, they are timeless and will never go out of style, but The Incredibles?
I am only speaking for myself…but this is my theory for why I don’t think in the future we will remember Nemo and friends the same way we will remember Cinderella and hers: We now live in a world that is capable of, (and is) changing at a pace that can be rivaled to lightening speed. We are getting used to the fact that we can now get everything we want within arms reach, customized to our personal tastes. We are addicted to a life of fast pace and change, the excitement we used to get from the ‘little things’ has worn off and no longer satisfies us like it used to. We are always on the hunt for the next best thing before we realize what we already have sitting right in front of us. Maybe that is what happened to our Critters and Disney characters. Time has changed so much since Walt first picked up his pencil and drew Mickey. The innocence and simplicity of his characters no longer appeal to our lives now, so dependent on change. The enchantment we felt when prince charming found his princess has grown tired. The hours and patience that I cannot begin to fathom, that went into creating the hand drawn animation has been replaced by the glitzy and complex characters of computer animation. Now, it seems that one hour is no longer enough for a movie. Disney makes movies that run over two hours, and not to mention, they can never stop after just one. Now there is always a trilogy, or what is it called when there is like seven of them? Sometimes, I can’t wrap my head around the intelligence of the characters in the Shreck movies either. They reel off jokes that I’m not even sure I would have understood as a kid.
The point is, our new Disney characters and Critters reflect the society we live in today. They are fast paced, complex and most importantly, they change. I think they have to be made this way now because we have changed so much and become so much smarter, the Critters and Disney characters became smarter too, to appeal to the audience. It is these characteristics of today’s Disney characters and Critters that no longer make them memorable or easy to identify with. The whole idea behind a brand character is so that people can instantly identify them with a product. Just the familiar picture of Tony the Tiger is an advertisement in itself for frosted flakes. Do today’s critters still have the ability to do that or is the message getting lost in all those jokes and fancy exteriors? Dave Ogilvy said, “In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.” With that in mind, when looking at today’s slick Critters like the Bell Beavers, you have to ask, are they drawing more attention to themselves as a character, then actually selling the product? Furthermore, do they have the ability to break through the clutter in the future? Maybe that answer is yes, but I would still say Betty Crocker is still going to be doing her job better then the beavers.
One could argue that I am biased, having been born in an era when all the classic movies were made. To be fair, I would have to ask today’s children in fifty years who they remember…Geico the Gecko or Mr. Clean? Cinderella or Nemo? Or, perhaps I am old fashioned and my rebellion is the result of not yet letting go of my old world due to all this change, I am mourning the old times. In the end, its all a personal opinion, and what I just wrote I am sure has its holes, but to every movie, music and book lover out there, I ask this: Do they still make them like they used to?
To argue my point further, I will use Disney as my example. I understand that Disney characters are not brand mascots, (arguably they could be, especially Mickey), but they are not used for the same purposes as a brand character. For the sake of this argument, they can still be used in the same context as critters, because they have been created from the imagination for people’s enjoyment. Having said that, I believe that Disney characters no longer have that special magic they once had, that makes them memorable either. Don’t think that I don’t love Pixar and the stuff they are coming out with now, the company absolutely fascinates me. I like almost all their movies; they are smart, adorable and witty. But, no matter how much I laughed at the genius of the penguins in Madagascar, I still feel they are lacking that same certain something that today’s critters lack to make them forever memorable. I will raise the same question as I did with the critters: Will you remember Cinderella in fifty years, or will you remember Nemo? No matter how many times you hear the Cinderella story, you’re enchanted, it never grows old. Its not just the Cinderella stories either, there is Pinocchio, Bambi, Dumbo, Fox & the Hound, The Lion King, I could go on. Like jeans, they are timeless and will never go out of style, but The Incredibles?
I am only speaking for myself…but this is my theory for why I don’t think in the future we will remember Nemo and friends the same way we will remember Cinderella and hers: We now live in a world that is capable of, (and is) changing at a pace that can be rivaled to lightening speed. We are getting used to the fact that we can now get everything we want within arms reach, customized to our personal tastes. We are addicted to a life of fast pace and change, the excitement we used to get from the ‘little things’ has worn off and no longer satisfies us like it used to. We are always on the hunt for the next best thing before we realize what we already have sitting right in front of us. Maybe that is what happened to our Critters and Disney characters. Time has changed so much since Walt first picked up his pencil and drew Mickey. The innocence and simplicity of his characters no longer appeal to our lives now, so dependent on change. The enchantment we felt when prince charming found his princess has grown tired. The hours and patience that I cannot begin to fathom, that went into creating the hand drawn animation has been replaced by the glitzy and complex characters of computer animation. Now, it seems that one hour is no longer enough for a movie. Disney makes movies that run over two hours, and not to mention, they can never stop after just one. Now there is always a trilogy, or what is it called when there is like seven of them? Sometimes, I can’t wrap my head around the intelligence of the characters in the Shreck movies either. They reel off jokes that I’m not even sure I would have understood as a kid.
The point is, our new Disney characters and Critters reflect the society we live in today. They are fast paced, complex and most importantly, they change. I think they have to be made this way now because we have changed so much and become so much smarter, the Critters and Disney characters became smarter too, to appeal to the audience. It is these characteristics of today’s Disney characters and Critters that no longer make them memorable or easy to identify with. The whole idea behind a brand character is so that people can instantly identify them with a product. Just the familiar picture of Tony the Tiger is an advertisement in itself for frosted flakes. Do today’s critters still have the ability to do that or is the message getting lost in all those jokes and fancy exteriors? Dave Ogilvy said, “In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.” With that in mind, when looking at today’s slick Critters like the Bell Beavers, you have to ask, are they drawing more attention to themselves as a character, then actually selling the product? Furthermore, do they have the ability to break through the clutter in the future? Maybe that answer is yes, but I would still say Betty Crocker is still going to be doing her job better then the beavers.
One could argue that I am biased, having been born in an era when all the classic movies were made. To be fair, I would have to ask today’s children in fifty years who they remember…Geico the Gecko or Mr. Clean? Cinderella or Nemo? Or, perhaps I am old fashioned and my rebellion is the result of not yet letting go of my old world due to all this change, I am mourning the old times. In the end, its all a personal opinion, and what I just wrote I am sure has its holes, but to every movie, music and book lover out there, I ask this: Do they still make them like they used to?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Brand Loyalty is like that first love gone wrong.
It's morning; I head for the bathroom and watch my reflection in the mirror staring back at me. I feel bored looking at this lifeless face standing before me. My face is like a bad painting, absent of any expression or meaning, unable to connect with its audience. But I know that underneath this canvas is the opposite, there is a painting full of life, colourful and animated, drawn to make you wonder. I question why these mousy brown eyelashes, blemished skin and small lips have to tell the world different? It’s not fair, but I can’t change it. I splash water over my face, pick up my paint brush and turn to my palette and get ready to do something about it.
First, I reach for my Nivea moisturizer. I've been using this moisturizer every day, twice a day since I've been eleven years old. My mother swears by it and I believe her. I too, hope that one day I will also have a line free face when I reach the age of 48, so I will take any ‘Mom’ advice I can get. But Mom really does know best. After working in top of the line spas for the past four years and using moisturizers costing hundreds of unnecessary dollars, claiming to solve all my skincare problems, I have always secretly gone back to that plain, white, thick and odorless cream. It comes in a blue, plastic container that almost looks like it would be filled with Vaseline instead, and can be found at the drugstore for only eight dollars and lasts me months on end. What makes this worse, is that I get paid to tell my customers that the high-end cream is the way to go, when myself, I prefer what is considered to be the cheap stuff. The guilt I feel from my infidelity disappears as I rub the Nivea into my skin. I can see it transforming, my fingers circular motions are breathing life into my skin, awakening it and giving it that healthy and alive glow, making it feel supple all day, everyday. I think ‘does this really make me a cheater? Or am I just being loyal?’
A big improvement already, but the picture is still lacking. There are dark under circles looming under my eyes and a mysterious growth forming on my chin. I turn back to my palette and reach for my Lancome Clair II concealer. Discovered three years ago, working at the Lancome make up counter, it has never left me since. It comes in a little black tube that looks like it holds about enough for twenty applications or so, but like magic it never runs out. I know that I need to purchase exactly two tubes, for the price of $26.50 each and I'm set for a year. I blend the formula into my problem areas and am still as amazed as I was on that fateful day that I found it. Amazed at how close it comes to my natural colour. No one will ever know its there and for this reason I am forever loyal.
My painting is beginning to take some shape, but the windows to my soul still reveal nothing, they’re not yet ready to tell today’s story. I hear my Dad saying I should think it a blessing to be born a blonde to two brunettes. But what is a blonde and blue combination, when those blues are lost in a tide of colourless eyelashes? I’m not satisfied and return to my palette for my Voluminous mascara by l'Oreal in Carbon Black, the greatest gift to all women in my shoes. Discovered before my days at the Lancome counter, I loved everything about it and stayed loyal until the fear of missing out on something in my life got the best of me and I did the inevitable, I bought a tube of Hypnose, "the Godfather” of all mascaras. Although a good end result, far too much work and high maintenance for my style. I miss my eight-dollar Voluminous and like Nivea, I go crawling back. I’m ashamed for having bought Hypnose for $32, calculating that I could have bought four Voluminous for that price. It’s Karma, I know this. I coat my eyelashes with the black liquid, thickening and separating them, one by one they are giving me the depth I know. I eventually learn that l'Oreal is Lancomes parent company and happily let the guilt of my fornication disappear. If buying within the family brand isn’t considered loyal, then I no longer comprehend what the worlds definition of this word is.
The painting now standing before me is almost there, but it’s still lacking something.
I reach for my brush and turn back into my palette and search for that final touch. I select 'Gotham' by Cargo, my final touch, my blush. I also found it three years ago and like the others it was well rounded and brought me satisfaction. But like they say, ‘once a cheater, always a cheater.’ I was faithful until I found Sugar. ‘California Sun’ by Sugar was a blush/bronzer combination that came in a sleek, fun, gold and pink compact. It looked so cool and its two-in-one combination would save me money. The best part was, I found it at Sephora in New York. Nobody else would have Sugar...that is until Ottawa decided to get a Sephora, (not that I’m complaining). And, by that time, I already made up my mind, I was over Sugar. Once I started wearing it all the time, I didn’t like how it looked anymore and I found the bronzer combination a nuisance, the pink and brown spilling into each other and making a big mess. I missed Cargo like I missed Nivea and Voluminous. I missed Cargos young, but timeless colours and fantastic quality. It costs a bit more, but I don't mind because it’s a Canadian brand and I rather pay, then settle for stupid 'trend of the moment, I want to be in a rap video' Sugar. I brush the blush on to my cheeks in an upward motion and my painting is finished, reflecting how I feel inside. I no longer feel like the meaningless painting that stood before me six and a half minutes ago. My lips are still bare and small, but its ok now, I’m confident and I’m set. But, just for good measure I reach for my palette one last time and choose a gloss to throw in my pocket for later. I am an admitted player in this area, but everyone needs a sense of adventure.
I feel that in comparison to my story, brand loyalty could be compared to that first love gone wrong that you never really do get over. But, in this case, you hold the power in the relationship. Like my makeup staples, it’s love at first sight. They are what help you get through your day and you could see yourself with only them for a long time. But the world lures you in, there’s pressure and temptation, but you hold strong. Time passes, you start to panic, because you’re not yet ready to settle down and fear your missing out on the rest of your life, so you leave. Only realizing everything you’ve lost when it’s already gone. And they are succeeding and doing just fine without you, you want them back. Reality is, rarely do we get a second chance when dealing in terms of loss, but the one difference between brand loyalty and love gone wrong is that brands will always take you back to that familiar and comforting place with loving arms. The second time around, if your wise, you stick around for a while.
First, I reach for my Nivea moisturizer. I've been using this moisturizer every day, twice a day since I've been eleven years old. My mother swears by it and I believe her. I too, hope that one day I will also have a line free face when I reach the age of 48, so I will take any ‘Mom’ advice I can get. But Mom really does know best. After working in top of the line spas for the past four years and using moisturizers costing hundreds of unnecessary dollars, claiming to solve all my skincare problems, I have always secretly gone back to that plain, white, thick and odorless cream. It comes in a blue, plastic container that almost looks like it would be filled with Vaseline instead, and can be found at the drugstore for only eight dollars and lasts me months on end. What makes this worse, is that I get paid to tell my customers that the high-end cream is the way to go, when myself, I prefer what is considered to be the cheap stuff. The guilt I feel from my infidelity disappears as I rub the Nivea into my skin. I can see it transforming, my fingers circular motions are breathing life into my skin, awakening it and giving it that healthy and alive glow, making it feel supple all day, everyday. I think ‘does this really make me a cheater? Or am I just being loyal?’
A big improvement already, but the picture is still lacking. There are dark under circles looming under my eyes and a mysterious growth forming on my chin. I turn back to my palette and reach for my Lancome Clair II concealer. Discovered three years ago, working at the Lancome make up counter, it has never left me since. It comes in a little black tube that looks like it holds about enough for twenty applications or so, but like magic it never runs out. I know that I need to purchase exactly two tubes, for the price of $26.50 each and I'm set for a year. I blend the formula into my problem areas and am still as amazed as I was on that fateful day that I found it. Amazed at how close it comes to my natural colour. No one will ever know its there and for this reason I am forever loyal.
My painting is beginning to take some shape, but the windows to my soul still reveal nothing, they’re not yet ready to tell today’s story. I hear my Dad saying I should think it a blessing to be born a blonde to two brunettes. But what is a blonde and blue combination, when those blues are lost in a tide of colourless eyelashes? I’m not satisfied and return to my palette for my Voluminous mascara by l'Oreal in Carbon Black, the greatest gift to all women in my shoes. Discovered before my days at the Lancome counter, I loved everything about it and stayed loyal until the fear of missing out on something in my life got the best of me and I did the inevitable, I bought a tube of Hypnose, "the Godfather” of all mascaras. Although a good end result, far too much work and high maintenance for my style. I miss my eight-dollar Voluminous and like Nivea, I go crawling back. I’m ashamed for having bought Hypnose for $32, calculating that I could have bought four Voluminous for that price. It’s Karma, I know this. I coat my eyelashes with the black liquid, thickening and separating them, one by one they are giving me the depth I know. I eventually learn that l'Oreal is Lancomes parent company and happily let the guilt of my fornication disappear. If buying within the family brand isn’t considered loyal, then I no longer comprehend what the worlds definition of this word is.
The painting now standing before me is almost there, but it’s still lacking something.
I reach for my brush and turn back into my palette and search for that final touch. I select 'Gotham' by Cargo, my final touch, my blush. I also found it three years ago and like the others it was well rounded and brought me satisfaction. But like they say, ‘once a cheater, always a cheater.’ I was faithful until I found Sugar. ‘California Sun’ by Sugar was a blush/bronzer combination that came in a sleek, fun, gold and pink compact. It looked so cool and its two-in-one combination would save me money. The best part was, I found it at Sephora in New York. Nobody else would have Sugar...that is until Ottawa decided to get a Sephora, (not that I’m complaining). And, by that time, I already made up my mind, I was over Sugar. Once I started wearing it all the time, I didn’t like how it looked anymore and I found the bronzer combination a nuisance, the pink and brown spilling into each other and making a big mess. I missed Cargo like I missed Nivea and Voluminous. I missed Cargos young, but timeless colours and fantastic quality. It costs a bit more, but I don't mind because it’s a Canadian brand and I rather pay, then settle for stupid 'trend of the moment, I want to be in a rap video' Sugar. I brush the blush on to my cheeks in an upward motion and my painting is finished, reflecting how I feel inside. I no longer feel like the meaningless painting that stood before me six and a half minutes ago. My lips are still bare and small, but its ok now, I’m confident and I’m set. But, just for good measure I reach for my palette one last time and choose a gloss to throw in my pocket for later. I am an admitted player in this area, but everyone needs a sense of adventure.
I feel that in comparison to my story, brand loyalty could be compared to that first love gone wrong that you never really do get over. But, in this case, you hold the power in the relationship. Like my makeup staples, it’s love at first sight. They are what help you get through your day and you could see yourself with only them for a long time. But the world lures you in, there’s pressure and temptation, but you hold strong. Time passes, you start to panic, because you’re not yet ready to settle down and fear your missing out on the rest of your life, so you leave. Only realizing everything you’ve lost when it’s already gone. And they are succeeding and doing just fine without you, you want them back. Reality is, rarely do we get a second chance when dealing in terms of loss, but the one difference between brand loyalty and love gone wrong is that brands will always take you back to that familiar and comforting place with loving arms. The second time around, if your wise, you stick around for a while.
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