Stop buying junk!
Do the phrases, “Must-have!” or “Run! Don’t walk” for the most unnecessary and obscurely cheap products plague your algorithm? Well, if you are anything like me, you may consider the product for .2 seconds and then quickly scroll away - coming back into reality, as you realize you never really wanted that in the first place.
Image from Stratusphere Blog
Have you ever truly reflected on the ethics of creating a false sense of urgency in marketing and considered the long-term consequences of these strategies?
This acknowledgment of oversaturated marketing practices has always lingered in the back of my mind. However, I have only recently came into despisement of this strategy after spending my summer in Florence, Italy. After immersing myself in this culture, I now see marketing/ branding strategies in a new light.
There, I took an Italian Luxury Industry class, and it truly deepened my love for thoughtfully made products that are so rare and so expensive to find nowadays.
Here’s a photo from the Ferragamo Museum showing all the models/tools used to understand the anatomy of the feet (yes, I was nerding out.)
The craftsmanship is just chef’s kiss
For example, when I returned to the States, I went into Target’s beauty section and was quite frankly overwhelmed and overstimulated by all the flashy, over-the-top packaging for products that are all basically the same thing and probably perform mediocrely. Not to mention, I would not be surprised if most of the ingredients used are horrible for me in my long-term health. Please sit with this idea for a minute and translate it into other areas… (cough cough yes, I am talking about pharmacies with an entire aisle of cold/ flu medicine)
Image from Target Corporation
Now, look I do not want to paint myself as this anti-consumerist snob who thinks everyone that falls for these traps is an idiot. Honestly, I give a lot of these consumers a lot of grace! If they are not educated on these deceptive marketing tricks, they do not realize they are being deceived. Especially nowadays, the average consumer has grown up with massive companies shoving products down our throats every moment we get, so it is so normalized.
Unfortunately, though, these have real consequences - not just a little buyer’s remorse from enjoying a Sephora run too much! Overconsumption is a real issue. Since consumers are buying so much, they lack the proper mindfulness that is necessary.
According to the Macarthur Foundation, the average consumer only wears a garment of clothing 7-10 times before discarding it.
