Candycast: Another innovation in the fashion world

I was looking on Style.com today, which most of you know is the official website for Vogue and W magazine. While I am usually on the website to watch the latest runway shows and look at photos of my favorite models, my eye was caught on this occasion by a link that read, "Candycast: Candy Pratts Prica gets animated about fashion." I clicked on the link, and a video begins to play. It features an animated woman, dressed in a black business suit, and beside her is a small "screen" where the latest trends are shown, and while the images are passing, Candy talks about each one and what she thinks is the next big thing. I really thought this was cool, because instead of reading through the pages of Vogue or Lucky, and seeing the 10,333 advertisements, you have a video with expert commentary on what is hot for Fall. I thought you all out there reading this would be intrigued, so you should check it out. The website is Style.com, and go the news and trends section, where you will see the picture of Candy, and you can hear all about the fashions we all love!

I'm a geek. I'll admit it, I'd much rather sit back and watch a good episode of Hannah Montana than any show on ABC evenings. And even though I vaguely remember watching the Mickey Mouse Club and Kids Incorporated, I can honestly say I remember the commercials in between the shows more. There was this one comercial for Powerwheels. I remember I wanted a Barbie Powerwheels so bad. I can still remember the song - pow pow power wheeeels!(I crashed my friends into the side of her house and lets just say Powerwheels became a four letter word in my house- and when I got my real liscense, forget about it!)
But I remember what a great idea it was. Kids immitating their parents, just like having baby dolls (like the water baby which also- I HAD to have, and I did have, until I put a pin in her stomach and she popped, squirting gross mixtures of water, or bodily fluid as I thought, all over the room)
But what on earth are toy coimpanies coming out with now? Ask Fisher Price- they have decided to start marketing digital cameras to babies. Like babies have an eye for photography. The best part? You can drop it down the stairs. I don't know if it is me, but anyone who drops their camera down the stairs fifty times shouldn't own one. (And the reason why they drop it is because it doesn't even fit in their hands.) So when do we say immitation of adults is enough when it comes to marketing toys to children? Should we be excited our newborn can take pictures of the floor? Or should we draw the line at cars?

Marketing- who are you REALLY trying to reach?

I have watched a few TV shows in my day, and I can't help but notice all those "stupid" Truth ads. Somehow, as much as I hate them, I can't help but watch them and think to myself- wow, who are cigarette companies really gearing themselves towards? And not just cigarette companies, any company for that matter.

We all know you cannot legally drink until the age of 21, so why does Bud Light have singing frogs that would clearly attract a younger crowd? It is obvious- because before a company even thinks to sell a product, they think to pound their name brand into your head. Do I have Geico auto insurance? No, I'm not old enough- but the talking gecco really makes me want it over All State, where instead they show accidents happening. (that scares me almost) So even though I don't own any of them, in the companies minds they have succeeded, by just engulfing me with ads to the point where I feel like I would be able to make a decision on which insurance I'd want. (When clearly my decision is based on a little green talking lizzard.)

All this makes me wonder, how is the success of a company measured? It cannot be completely net profit, it must be - in large part, advertising. Or can it? One of the most successful companies yet is Wal Mart, and I can tell you their commercials spark no sense of emotion in me what so ever. In fact, I'd go as far as to say in my mind they are one of Wal Marts greatest flaws.
How are we supposed to live normal lives when the average person sees over hundreds of ads per day and while doing so forms habitual opinions? How are we not supposed to form bonds with some companies and gain bias opinions against others based soley on how they choose to represent theselves on national television?