The Last Day

Writing this brand blog has been an eye-opening experience. I haven't given that much thought to to brands before, but I'm sure I will now.

I'm torn about whether I want to go back to being blissfully unaware or embrace my newfound ability to nitpick brand messages. I think I'll end up somewhere in between.

That said, my brother's birthday is Tuesday, and I'm making him cupcakes. They will be fully branded and fully delicious. Pillsbury Funfetti cake with Pillsbury cream cheese icing, and Wall-E decorations and paper cupcake wrappers. I'm letting branding work for me in this case to make my baby brother (turning 20!!) happy.

My new goal, branding blog or not, will be to find the balance between not caring about brands and obsessing over brands. My future's so bright, I've gotta wear (RayBan) shades. ;)

Days Eight/Nine/Ten

So, I only have a few things about brands. I'm pretty close to brand-blogged out.

First of all, people who brand their cars with Jesus-fish shouldn't drive like jerk. I got the finger yesterday from someone sporting a moving ad for the Lord. Not cool. (By the way, I had my blinker on to change lanes and was in process of moving over when the afore mentioned Jesus-loving-jerk pulled out of a parking lot and into the lane I was moving into thereby forcing me to cut them off, earning me five minutes of the lewd gesture in my rearview mirror.)

I'm realizing that I don't think about brand outside of shopping very much because for a lot of things in my life, I just don't care. I like taking Advil, but I'll buy generic ibuprofen of any random brand. I bought some iPod socks to keep my portable electronics from being scratched, but the iPod brand were $30 for six tiny cloth pouches. In stead, I bought the off-brand for $5 and got the same benefit.

I haven't been sleeping well. I've been an insomniac since college. So, occasionally, I take melatonin to help me get to sleep. When I buy melatonin, or any other vitamin for that matter, I don't care about brand at all.

I don't care about my brands of clothes. I don't care about my brands of beer (sorry Garrett!). I don't care about my brands of shoes, although there are brands I like, ultimately it's about comfort and fit, and I'm all over the board. I don't care about brands of tissue. I don't care about brands of toilet paper, as long as the ply count is appropriate. I don't care about brands of food, because I shop what's on sale. I don't care about brands of gasoline when I'm paying on my own. (Technically, my dad is footing my gas while I'm in school, and he gets a credit card kickback from Exxon, so I care now on his behalf.)

I'm finding myself troubled by the pervasiveness of brands in my mind. That I could be so aware of brands without even knowing I was being indoctrinated is terrifying.

Day(s) Five/Six/Seven

Friday, I didn't blog. I was pretty busy. I went to Home Depot with my parents to shop for bathroom faucets. I guess for some people, faucet brands might be pretty critical, but for us, this shopping was based on nothing but looks.

In the evening, I went to see The Ricky Horror Show at UNT. This play is branded in a severely unique way. It's one of the only brands that gives customers the freedom to yell terrible and offensive things at performers mid-show. I really enjoyed it. I also didn't yell anything mean at anyone.

Saturday, I went to lunch with my best friend in the whole world. We went to a restaurant neither of us had ever hear of...online it was well rated for atmosphere and service. after that, we went to the Galleria in Dallas. There was more branding there than I can begin to process. Somehow, I think that's an appropriate arena for all that branding, though. I expect to see branding at a mall, and I prepare myself to tune it out. When branding is really effective in influencing me, I think, is when it's out of context. If a friend of mine has something cool, that's when I'm swayed. When I'm in a bind and a product really comes through, that's when I'm converted into a brand loyalist.

On Sunday, I left a few minutes early for church. I went to Jack in the Box to grab some breakfast. This particular Jack in the Box is populated with the most polite and s...l...o...w...e...s...t moving employees. This fast food was not very fast. The quality was fine, but in hindsight, I should have gone to the McDonald's a block away. This afternoon I'm driving home, and I'm sure I'll have more musings on brand as there's not much to look at between Waxahachie and Georgetown.

Day Four

This afternoon, I drove to Dallas to spend the weekend with my parents. I never really thought about how brands affect my choices on a road trip until I started looking for a place to make a pit stop. Apparently, I don't pee at off-brand roadside gas stations. I refused to pull over until I saw a sign for an Exxon station. That's not to say that I'd stop at just any Exxon. I'll drive right past if it doesn't look clean and well lit. I guess that means that the brand name only goes so far, then it comes down to curb appeal and customer service.

My parents recently purchased a new (HUGE) tv. It's Samsung, which also happens to be my favorite brand of cell phone. They also got a Samsung blu-ray player and surround sound system. They did all this shopping at Best Buy and gave me the credits on my Reward Zone card. That's pretty exciting. I may be Best Buy branded, because that Reward Zone card makes me a very loyal Best Buy shopper. I earn gift certificates when I buy stuff I wanted anyway. I think it's a win-win.

I watched 30 Rock tonight. One of my favorite running jokes on that show is brand-related. The main character Liz Lemon is a single, lovably flawed woman who constantly eats chips called "Sabor de Soledad" which is Spanish for "the taste of loneliness." It makes me laugh.

Now I'm watching The Dark Knight in beautiful (and intense) blu-ray. It's interesting that they even use branding within the movie to make the Gotham world feel more real. In this movie specifically, the news channel GCN is fairly prominent. Also, Harvey Dent did such good branding during his campaign (not in the movie) that we still hear his slogan and see his stickers. "I Believe in Harvey Dent." Wayne enterprises is also a ubiquitous brand in the Gotham world.

Something interesting about The Dark Knight and Batman Begins and whatever this new Batman movie Chris Nolan is directing is the issue of authenticity. Even though these films diverge from the Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher predecessors, they are considered to be the most authentic films of the brand. They seem to correct the stylistic inconsistencies of the Schumacher films and bring some integrity back to the Batman name. (i.e., no Arnold delivering lines like, "Watch the numbers Batman, for they are the harbingers of your doom." or his incessant refrain of "Chill, chill." or my personal favorite "My name is Freeze. Learn it well, for it is the chilling sound of your doom." Apparently everything in that movie was a sign of Batman's doom.) The quality of the Nolan movies was appreciated by everyday fans and snobby critics. The Dark Knight was set in a thinly veiled mock-up of Chicago as opposed to the others that took place in neon painted versions of New York. I think this relationship to place...or at least tone...is part of what made these films superior. Had The Dark Knight been set in fake NYC or fake Atlanta, it wouldn't have worked as well. The viral and intensely branded marketing that preceded The Dark Knight didn't exactly downplay the commercial nature of the film (which was always expected to make more money than is really reasonable for any one movie) but they made it clear to deeply devoted fans that there was more going on than earning a billion-jillion dollars.

Clearly, this class has already begun warping me. Luckily, a 46-inch Samsung turns my brain to mush in HD. Maybe I'll balance out before the weekend is over. :)

Day Three

Today, as promised, I will put on the hat of a hater. I'm going to do my best to name the brands that I'm aware of, but for one reason or another I avoid.

The brand that I probably have the most venom toward is Franco-American. I will admit that I'm a fan of pasta from a can. It's not classy, it's not healthy, and it's barely delicious. That said, I'm kind of a connoisseur. I don't care that they're iconic or that the name in considered by some to be nostalgic, Spaghetti-os taste like crap. They're no good. In fact, I've never had any Franco-American canned pasta that I like. It took me years to convince my parents that there was a difference. I'm a Chef Boyardee girl. I like the ravioli, and I like the ABCs & 123s. My favorite Chef Boyardee pasta of all time, however, is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Meatballs. They haven't made it for years, but to me, it's the quintessential canned pasta delicacy. They now make Spiderman pasta and "forkables" that are similar to the Ninja Turtles I loved, but its not quite the same.

I never set out to hate Franco-American, but it happened over several years of botched shopping trips. When I was in junior high and high school, I was very involved in after-school activities, and sometimes I'd be at school until 9 or 10 p.m. When I got home I was usually famished, and I'd go to the pantry for a can of Ninja Turtles with Meatballs. On good days, that's what I'd find. On bad days, read "when my Dad did the grocery shopping", I'd find Spaghetti-os. Sometimes I'd try to grin and bear it and eat them anyway. After a few of those times, I started deciding I'd rather go to bed hungry. So, while Franco-American did nothing to me besides taste different than what I like, I will forever associate that brand with being disappointed and unsatisfied. I'm sure there's probably some sort of Daddy-issue mixed in there as well as he was the one who usually did the errant shopping. He's since learned, and he doesn't bring home anything but Chef Boyardee.

I don't think I've ever spent so much time thinking about things I don't like. I generally try to focus on the positive. There aren't many brands that I categorically dislike.

I do avoid Windows and Windows-reliant products. Owning a Mac made this MUCH easier. I find that Windows is just the face that represents everything that's ever bothered me about computers. I think it may just be a victim of the times, though. There haven't been many non-Windows choices, and my appetite for technology has been growing since about birth. Clearly, there is no killer app and no perfect technology, so Windows simply lacked the ability to be perfect.

I really can't think of other brands I avoid. Maybe I'll go on an exploratory window-shopping trip to find more things I dislike.

Day Two

I left my house this morning and I forgot my phone. It's a Palm Centro. I use Sprint. Without it, I couldn't text message, and I tried to someone my cool Facebook application but looked foolish when I reached for the phone that wasn't there. On the way home from school, I tried to stop for lunch at Whataburger, but the line at the drive-thru was terribly long. Whataburger has a brand reputation for slow service. On the other hand, it's almost always worth it.

So, instead of Whataburger today, I stopped at McDonalds. I ordered a large Coca-Cola on the promise that I'd recieve a free Redbox DVD rental. Alas, my cup was covered in Olympic rings. No free Redbox DVD rental for me. Redbox is my favorite of all the $1 per night DVD kiosks. I honestly can't name another brand of DVD rental kiosk, but I know there is one in HEB and one in Randall's, neither of which I've rented from. I've tried to rent from both, but neither had movies that I wanted to see.

I enjoyed my McNuggets, but I think I would have preferred the Whataburger. A #1 combo, dry with only pickles and tomatoes is comfort food for me. I think it ha to do with growing up in Corpus Christi, the home of Whataburger. I had a rough morning, and I was looking to sooth my nerves with unhealthy food. McDonalds did the job, but I would have been more comforted by Whataburger. When I was living at home, my Dad would bring home a Whataburger when I was bed-ridden because of back problems. I think it says something about my brand loyalty (as well as my dysfunctional relationship with food) when I admit that what I really wanted today was a hug, but what I sought out was a Whataburger.

I bought groceries yesterday. I went to Randall's because I was told they had good specials running. The best value I got was on Starkist Tuna. cans were 10 for $10. I should have gone to HEB. There were more things I needed, but the prices at Randall's were too high. I have to say, I love the HEB store brand more than many name brands. As french onion dip goes, there is nothing better than the HEB brand in the purple and white tub. HEB also has great in-store deals where you can get several items for free if you buy one or two particular items. They call them Combo Locos. I missed HEB very much when I lived in the Dallas area. My parents live in Dallas now and they miss it too.

I'm not sure what more I have to say about brands today. I've spent a lot of time on my sofa, using my MacBook. I'm realizing how little I think about brands in a given day, but when pressed, my home is full of brands. It's a little bit overwhelming.

I'm still formulating my thoughts about brands I avoid. Yesterday I mentioned Franco-American (makers of Spaghetti-os), and today I'll add Windows to the list. Maybe tomorrow I'll have more to say about that.

Day One

We are charged with paying attention to brands that do and do not impact our lives, so this may begin as a sort of list, then turn into a commentary.

First, I am typing this blog post on my MacBook that is connected to the internet using my Time Capsule. These are both from the Apple line of products. My brother and I have contemplated getting an Apple TV for our apartment, but my television set is a 4:3 aspect ratio ILO model that just won't cut it. Plus, now that Hulu has pulled out of Boxee, there's little point. I chose the ILO tv at Walmart several years ago because it was the largest television I could buy with the money I had available. I like it, although I haven't ben able to find a universal remote that works with it because it is an off-brand.

I'm using Google-owned Blogger to create my brand blog because it is free and reliable. I'm not concerned that my posts will disappear without notice. Although, I am concerned that so many brand name-drops in a blog all at once may trigger some sort of spam filter.

I need to do laundry today. My washer and dryer are GE. I chose them partially because they were a brand I knew represented quality, but mostly, they were the cheapest ones with the largest doors. The other dryers in this price range had tiny openings that would require a team of elves for putting clothes in and taking them out. I simply cannot afford elves on a student budget. (At the time I was a teacher, but elves were still out of my price range.)

When I wash my clothes, sans elves, I will use Tide Total care detergent. It's an orange liquid that is supposed to maintain the integrity of my clothes longer than regular detergent. My brother picked this out, although it is nearly twice as expensive as regular Tide. If it were my choice, I'd still choose Tide over other detergents, but I'd be noticeably more shabby if Total Care's claims are true. I also use Bounce dryer sheets, not because I love them, but because they came free with purchase at HEB. Usually I use some spiky dryer balls I found at Bed, Bath, and Beyond that do the work of dryer sheets but only need to be purchased once. They cost about as much as a box of dryer sheets, so I went for it. Generally I like them, but they make a terrible sound as the dryer drum flings them to and fro.

I have to give my brother a ride to a meeting. My brother's meeting is with the other Disney representatives on the UT campus. He is employed by Disney which explains the disproportionate amount of Disney merchandise in our two-bedroom apartment. Taking him to this meeting, I will drive my Ford Ranger and listen to my iPod. Later, I will most likely use my Nintendo Wii with the Wii Fit to find out how much weight I gained or lost during SXSW. I may also eat some Hamburger Helper for dinner. For lunch, I had Carls Jr. because we hadn't tried it yet. I found it a little pricey but very delicious. For some reason, a $6.99 value meal seems too expensive, but the caliber of sandwich was equal to one I'd happily pay $8.99 + $1.99 (for my soft drink) for at Chili's or Applebee's. Somehow, the quality of food was irrelevant given the type of restaurant. I want fast food to be $5.00 and casual dining to be $10.00. The in-betweens make me uncomfortable. (This is completely disregarding the Chick-fil-a menu which always costs me around $8.00, but it's so delicious that it gets its own category.)

From what I can tell so far, many of my brand decisions are based on price or available features, and less about brand loyalty. I will think about what brands I am loyal to and which brands I am loyal against (looking at you, Franco-American).

The Assignement

Brand Blog (Individual)

Brand Blog. During the first two weeks of class, create a blog about the brands in your life and those you encounter but which are not a part of your life. Make significant* entries on at least five different days.
* Carefully consider the point value of the assignment when considering the length and quality of the deliverable.

The following is not a checklist for you to follow, it is merely a list of the types of questions or ideas you might consider as you blog about brands: Tie your impressions about the brands to your life – you could include personal histories you have with a brand, how the brand helps you socially or psychologically, what you think the brand means to you and others and why. Have you ever noticed that there are so many brands? How are some brands failing to get your attention, how are others successful? Are there any brands that stand out as having a personality – what would that mean? Do any brands’ personalities closely follow your own? Do you think some brands are shallow? Are some trying too hard?

It makes sense that you might also include observations about marketing communications and the concept of authenticity, since you are reading about those things concurrently with this assignment.