New Inovative Product... I must have!

I have grown up in the horse world, I have been riding since I was 6. Most of the tack and gear I have for my horses have all been hand me-downs or were pre-owned that I purchased at a Tack sale. After moving out to Montana, I was out of this horse world for a few years. Well I'm back in it stronger than ever with two colts that I started (meaning tough to be ridden). 

I cant believe all the new innovative products for horses out there. I used to just think a saddle pad was a saddle pad, just a little cushion between the saddle and horse. Now they have air ride pads, gel and even ones that are custom fit to your horse! All these new products they have out are amazing, like the bridle-less bit I just got an email for. 

I got to thinking about all these new products out there, and why I am more informed than ever about new horse things coming into the market. Well back in the day, I would get mail catalogs now and then, and ordered a few items that way. Now in 2013 its a whole lot different. Now I am a lot more advertised to though social media, e-mail and cookies on my computer. I know of new products that are coming out such as Professional Choice's latest leg support products, or the newest feed supplements. 


I personally like checking my email and reading about new products, or seeing what companies are doing via their Facebook page. This is helping me to stay on top of my horses health and comfort.  

What is Mainstream culture?

One of the possible exams questions got me thinking, and I don't think to hard very often. The question was, "Do you think there really is such a thing as "mainstream culture" or is the mainstream really just a collection of subcultures, peoples personalities, and lifestyles?"

When I was pondering this question I started thinking about things that have changed and/or evolved in my family since I was born. The first thing was this idea of church as part of our culture. Both my parents were brought up going to church on Sundays until they were 18, and then it was there choice. When I was really young, my bother and I would sometimes go with my grandmother. Once we got older it was our choice if we wanted to attend or not. Is this considered as us being "mainstream"? I think not, this is just our culture evolving over time. Our lifestyles changed, and our personality's took us into a different direction. 

So to answer this question, I don't think there is such thing as Mainstream Culture. I think its a mix of peoples lifestyles, personalities, and different subcultures emerging due to older cultures evolving into something new. 
  

Burning Man

After reading the article "Can Consumers Escape the Market? Emancipatory Illuminations from Burning Man"by Robert V. Kozinets, it was amazing to read about this culture that gets together for one week out of the year and tries to avid being consumers and consumption. As I was reading this article, all I could think in my mind was how one could completely escape advertising? It had to be somewhat relevant at this event. The example in the reading that kinda answered my question was the guy who was covering up the brand of motor-home he had with duct tape. 

Still, there must be some talk or brands, and consumption at this event. I'm sure conversations arise about car brands, types of shoes, and probably even comparing brands or diffrent tents and/or motor home. I think this event definitely gets its participants involved in being creative, making ones own clothing, own vehicles, being self expressive, the idea of art, sculptures, and all the radical things that make this event what it is.    

From the reading, I gather this event of Burning Man will always be evolving, away from what it did stand for and into something else. The way Kozinets described the gift giving, and the trade of things as curruncy in this community and how it is changing from what it was to something diffrent.     

I guess to fully understand the Burning Man experience, one most attend for themselves!

 

The Marketing Grove of Subcultures

I found the reading on subcultures very interesting. I wasn't aware that there were so many diffrent ways people in American could be seperated into theres diffrent groups based on culture. One thing that made me laugh was the way that companies such as Coors, Braniff and Budwiser had many english to spanish translation mishaps in there slogs.

This topic of subcultures really got me looking for signs in the commercials I was watching. This one by Subarur showed many diffrent types of the "Big Three" American Ethic and age subcultures in there car add. All these people were being marketed the same common thing that is important to any culture and that is the safety of the passengers (mostly children) in the back set of the vehicle.  

Here is the commercial, see if you can pick up on the hits of subculture coming together on a common important goal.

Heres the link: http://youtu.be/Nor4SuFEKSU

Predictably Irrational Takeaway

I thought this book was a very interesting read. This book definitely had me thinking about the ways I consume and my way of thinking through the process.

I noticed that when I buy a product I am one of those who is influenced by anchoring, which according to the book, has a major long-term effect on our willingness to pay. I usually will compare a price of a product by the price I think it is worth relevant to another similar product. I'm one of those consumers that can relate to the pearl example in the book. If its a product that is offered in a high end store, I assume that is must be more luxury than a similar product sold at a Walmart.

I'm a broke collage student, so I mostly shop for price over the quality and or a name brand of a product, but I do fall for the FREE products from time to time. If its buy one get one free, I will usually buy that over the product that I actually need, or that is of way better quality or poorer quality. (I still believe all toilet papers are the same)

 The concept and experiment in this book will definitely have me thinking the next time I go to make a simple purchase at the grocery store or an even bigger purchase such as a new horse trailer.

We Are Problem Solvers!

I may have impulse bought another horse, which is now leading me to have to buy a bigger horse trailer. I'm not in a hurry to buy, and since I'm going to have to finance, I want to get exactly what I want. 

I'm finding myself going through the stages in consumer decision making:

1) Problem Recognition: Needing a bigger horse trailer.
2) Information Search: I have not bought a trailer in a very long time and thing have changed a lot since my 1989 Big Valley Trailer was built. I have spent a lot of time researching different manufactures and models, possible defects and problems others have had.
3) Evaluation of Alternatives: Since I am buying a per-owned trailer the biggest problem is finding out what they are worth. There is no Kelly Blue Book for the value of a used horse trailer like there is a car. I have spent a lot of time researching what make one trailer worth more or less than another that is comparable. I have found that location is a key role, and lucky for me this valley is a pricy place to buy a trailer.
4) Product Choice: This is the stage I am currently in, I know what features I want, and I know the type of trailer I want to purchase. Now I just need to look at my options and pick the one that I feel is the best fit.
5) Outcomes: I hope when I get to this stage I made the right choice and enjoy my purchase!

To Impulse Buy or Not

So a few months back I may have bought a new horse on impulse. I wasn't even in the market for another horse at the time, but did look now and then to see what was out there. I have always wanted a buckskin colored horse, but because of this rare color, I was never able to find one even near my price range. I was at work one afternoon and was just searching the web and came across this beautiful horse. It was a 4 year old buckskin that was for sale here in Belgrade. I thought, well it never hurts to take a look, so i called the number on the ad, and scheduled a time to see this horse.

 I went out to a farm near Spring Hill community where I met with the breeder who took me up to the mountain side where he had a herd of about 30 head. I saw the beautiful Buckskin standing in the middle of this heard of all Bay and Brown horses. I knew right then and there I had to have this horse, so I told him I would take her.

I hadn't really thought any of it though, like how I was going to afford another horse?  Will I have time to brake her out? or Did I even have the money to buy her?

 Lucky for me I made an amazing purchase and couldn't be happier with her! I don't think I will ever tell my mom that I bought a horse of a mountain side that I never really saw up close. This was quite the impulse buy, but it is one I am glade I made. If I actually took time and thought about it, I would probably not have this beautiful buckskin mare today!

 

Culture Evolving

I have never really thought about diffrent cultures that much related to the way things are marketed. The movie Bend it Like Beckham has really opened my eyes to the way cultures are evolving. In the movie Jess is being brought up in a traditional way but society has shown her that she can still have her cultural background but also do things that are out of that norm such as play soccer.

I feel I can relate to Jess in the way that she is doing something "untraditional".  I have always worked in positions that were untraditional for a woman, starting with becoming a certified welder. Lucky for me though I always had family support, but I come from a diffrent cultural background where women can do just as much as men. I was never forced to learn to cook, learn how to sew, or any of that traditional "women's work".  It was perfectly ok to want to be out in the shop with the boys then in the kitchen with the girls.

Clicking the "Like Button"

So I run the social media pages for the company I work for, Black Smoke Diesel. It amazed me what will get a ton of "likes" almost automatically,  and what will get a few over a few days.  Today I posted a really awesome article I found about transmission. It was full of really good information that I though most of our fans would enjoy reading. After I posted the article I posted a funny Picture that had to do with the industry were in. Less than 20min later I must of had over 60 "likes" on this picture, and only 3 on the article. 

Since this is a consumer behavior class I thought it would be cool to see what people would bother "liking" over something else on Facebook. From what I have found it takes less effort to just view something quick and easy like that picture scrolling through the news feeds as apposed to the article where you actually have to open the link and do a little reading.  

I'm finding that even pictures of some of the trucks we are working on, when posted on Facebook, are not getting as many "likes" and these kinda corny sayings and pictures that I find off Google and post. From now on I guess I'm gonna give the consumer more of what they want! I'm still gonna post informational articles thought, some people out there still enjoy learning! 

Check out our page and like us on Facebook! Black Smoke Diesel Performance LLC

My Extended Self

After reading "Possessions and the Extended Self", discussing the subject in-class and writing "My Love Story", it amazes me how so many diffrent things can mean so much to us. I really enjoyed listening to everyones stories about the possessions they love, and how they got them. The most enjoyable part of these stories was why these things mean so much. This class exercise made me reflect on all the possessions I have and the special ones that i can not live without, the ones that really make me who I am. 

Welcome to The World of RedBull

Ok, so every time I watch a Red Bull commercial it makes me feel like I could do all those amazing things. Its like just hearing the most amazing motivational speech, while viewing the most amazing landscapes. It real athletes doing real sport, while looking good and doing what they do best. This got me thinking about the discussion about Actual vs Ideal self. I think this company does an amazing job at making the "average Joe" wanna get off the couch, grab a Red Bull, throw on a squirrel suit and jump off a mountain. Whats also amazing about this company is the way it started ( I will find article, its's an interesting story) and what it has become today.

First Ever Blog

This is my first ever Blog! I'm gonna use this as a test so I can make sure I'm doing this right! Can't wait to read everyone's thoughts an opinions on all the good material we will be discussion is this class!