I began this blog on April 21st 2010, as a place to collect images and words under the umbrella theme of looking at brands and the way advertisers are trying to reach consumers in what is undoubtedly a difficult time yet one which is throwing up new opportunities to target spenders.
Recently turned 26, residing in North London, currently jobless, haven't bought an item of clothing in 2010, particularly enamored with photography, cookery and design; I may be something of an anomaly in terms of the demographic group into which I can be categorised.
Yet I suspect that is the way for many of my peers many of whom have been made redundant or are trying to cut back on their consuming for financial reasons. I have no doubt that the recession that has dominated the mood of the last 2 years has affected the way every single person in the Western world thinks about spending and has changed the way we feel about consuming. The allure of a brand spanking new product feels a little less life enhancing when the daily headlines scream of mass redundancy and enormous tax hikes.
We are sold to every day, from the moment we switch on the (commercial) radio to the (possibly far too late) hour we switch off our computers or televisions. But advertisers are having to address the way they reach us and we are in the middle of an enormous overhaul of how we are marketed to.
It is fascinating to watch as viewers turn to downloads and sky plus meaning commercial advertising doesn't reach them, as readers turn to blogs and twitter to seek information meaning print advertising doesn't reach them, as listeners share music for free meaning radio advertising doesn't reach them. Of course I am simplifying here, yes all these points have ethical implications which we can discuss at another time and yes some of this new media is starting to be reached by advertisers, but what we are seeing is a complete change in how we consumer media meaning advertisers are having to flex their creative and competitive muscles.
This blog will take a look at who is doing what, whether it is working, what works for me and hopefully for you. From tiny street artists in Soho to the beasts like Apple and McDonald this is a place to berate and celebrate the good, bad and the ugly when it comes to getting us to put our hands in our (in my case almost empty) pockets.
