Can you live with fewer possessions? What do you need to truly make you happy? Watch this video to find out strategies for “editing” your life.
Category Archives: The Stuff of Consumer Culture
Stuff: If That’s What You Wanted
“Stuff: If That’s What You Wanted” won first place in a Teen Writing Contest on the Stage of Life web site. The theme is Black Friday shopping and the need to buy more…stuff. The author talks about how her own desire to join her friends for the shopping frenzy was overcome by a family Thanksgiving gathering.
Economy in The 1950s
After World War II the Fifties brought about a change in the standards of living for Americans. How did advertising contribute to consumerism?
Souvenirs are an important part of the holiday experience
Vacations and souvenirs seem to go hand in hand. Why can’t we resist the souvenir shop, and what are we thinking about when picking the “perfect gift” for a loved one?
New Study Reveals How Consumers React to ‘The Store of the Future’
Just how happy are we with the use of technology to aid our shopping experiences in-store? Are we comfortable with virtual help in the dressing room?
Not Just Millennials: Consumers Want Experiences, Not Things
Today’s consumers prefer to spend money on experiences rather than material things.
A History Of Loyalty Programs, And How They Have Changed
When did the first loyalty programs come about? You might be surprised by the answer. Learn about the early beginnings of loyalty programs and how the system has evolved from copper tokens to mobile apps.
How ‘Ugly’ Fruits and Vegetables Can Help Solve World Hunger
Read the first few paragraphs of this article and browse the images throughout to get a glimpse into food waste on a global scale. Then, have a read through the piece titled Reducing Waste: How You Can Help.
Too Consumed to Ingest the world around us?
What’s more important to you; actually enjoying the moment or taking a photo of the particular moment to show that you were enjoying it?
How Wearable Tech Is Creeping into the Beauty Industry
Learn about some of the technology innovations in the world of cosmetics known as beauty wearables; technology to monitor the use of sunscreen, deodorant, and more!
Retail Therapy: Does It Help?
The old line, “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping,” may hold a kernel of truth after all.
Look, something shiny!
Colorful products overshadow our logical, sensible brain when purchasing. And, marketers strategically use color to guide us in a particular direction. This study from The Ohio State University covers some interesting points on how our brains treat color versus black and white objects.
How Landfills Work
A landfill isn’t just a dump. It’s carefully designed and managed to keep trash separated from the surrounding environment and to reduce moisture and air that would break down trash. Find out more about these complex structures.
The 11 Ways That Consumers Are Hopeless at Math
A new study in The Journal of Marketing which reveals that most consumers don’t know enough math to tell if they are getting a good deal or not.
You can’t talk about millennials without mentioning this
A recent report describes how young, multicultural consumers having the spending power and longevity to influence the U.S. retail industry. Read about it here.
Litter To Your Heart’s Content With This Seed-Bomb Coffee Cup
As consumers, do we give enough thought to the amount of waste we generate or where it ends up? This Kickstarter project aims to educate consumers about their waste by producing a coffee cup that can be used to grow plants or trees.
With a Few Bits of Data, Researchers Identify ‘Anonymous’ People
A study in the Journal Science has analyzed credit card transactions to show that it is often possible to indentify individuals from just a few pieces of specific information. Read about the study here.
Technology firms explore ‘second screen’ opportunity
Software developers are seeking ways to connect people’s tablets and smartphones with what they are watching on television screens. But how useful is it?
World Wastes Half Its Food
A recent study by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers reveals that, across the world, about half of the food we are producing is being wasted. But why? And where is it going?