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Category Archives: The Stuff of Consumer Culture
Buying begets buying: how stuff has consumed the average American’s life
Living beyond our means and having an attachment to possessions is something we’ve become accustomed to. We can put a false value on owning things, imagining a happiness that simply cannot be obtained through materialism.
The Invisible Way That Marketers Set the Menu for Your Thanksgiving Feast
The foods we literally consume at Thanksgiving are based not in history, but in consumerism itself.
The Mask Barons of Etsy
While the coronavirus has led to complications for many workers, some Etsy sellers have made a fortune selling cloth masks to consumers. Read more about the hard work and luck that went into making millions off of a perfect storm of circumstances.
What Is Fast Fashion — and Why Is It a Problem?
Your recent clothing haul may have more environmental costs and ethical concerns than you might expect. Read more about how fast fashion has a hidden cost many don’t know they are paying.
Big Food Is Boosted by All Our Pandemic Snacking
While some companies are struggling during the pandemic, major snack companies are bringing in unforeseen profits.
Overpopulation, overconsumption – in pictures
See images from a new book documenting the ecological and social results of overpopulation and overconsumption throughout the world.
Following Garbage’s Long Journey Around The Earth
What happens to the stuff you no longer need? In this interview, author Edward Humes describes the huge amount of trash created in the United States and explains where it goes when we throw it away.
How the Virus Transformed the Way Americans Spend Their Money
See eye-opening graphs of the many ways consumer spending shifted in response to COVID-19.
This is why everyone is hoarding toilet paper
Grocery shopping during a pandemic is already a strange experience involving sanitizing carts and maintaining social distance. But why does it also include whole aisles of empty shelves where toilet paper should be?
Self-control, smells and how our spending is affected
Studies have shown how materialism, loneliness, and even smell affect how consumers spend money. As you read this article, think about your own decision-making when it comes to shopping.
Matty Benedetto is the master of unnecessary inventions
Normally, an inventor strives to create products that fill a need and solve a problem. Matty Benedetto does the opposite. Watch a video showing his delightfully useless creations.
10 Companies That Completely Reinvented Themselves
Did you know that a major cell phone manufacturer used to make rubber boots? Or that a well-known gasoline company used to sell seashells? Check out this slideshow to see how some companies have transformed themselves.
Are We Genetically Inclined To Be Materialistic?
Culture can help people to learn to share freely. Listen to this report comparing people in modern economies like those of the United States to hunter-gatherers.
How Teenagers Spend Money
Where does your money typically go? Compare your spending habits with the national breakdowns featured in this report.
The Rise of the Zombie Mall
With the rise of online shopping, the number of people taking trips to physical shopping malls has declined. Shopping malls may not be dead yet, but their future is uncertain.
Consumers want a climate label for food, research shows
A growing number of consumers are conscious of their toll on the environment. A helpful tool in reducing carbon footprints could be “climate labeling.” Read about this interesting proposal.
Here’s How Streaming Music is Killing the Planet
With the rise of music streaming, the music industry now produces less plastic waste than before. However, streaming music has its unintended consequences.
The Psychology Of Vanity Sizing
With more and more Americans worried about their weight, clothing makers are making shifts in sizing to make customers feel better about themselves. Read this article to learn more about “vanity sizing.”
Brain Scans of Hoarders Reveal Why They Never De-Clutter
Would you have trouble parting with your favorite things? A hoarder is a person who collects items and can’t discard any of them. Often, the homes of hoarders are completely full, with only enough room left to walk from room to room. A new study using brain scans helps shed light on why people behave this way.