Marketing plans and product promotion of the wrapping paper and card industry should be lauded. While I've always been impressed by the marketing of 3M (i.e. scotch tape) or McDonald's as they were able to rise above the noise and identify themselves as the premier leader. Many off us refer to clear plastic tape as "Scotch Tape" or "Value Meals" as coined by McDonald's to refer to any drink, side, sandwich combination. Yet all of these things are filling basic needs.
Wrapping paper and cards are completely useless. I spent at least $15 on wrapping paper and another $30 on Christmas cards for this holiday season. One set of ribbon that was 3.00 only worked for 2 packages. The wrapping paper industry does very little external marketing yet most of us will purchase this product at the holiday season. I hate to think what the mark-up is on such a product but a 100 sq foot role of paper certainly does not cost more than 50 cents to produce yet is sold for an easy $4.00.
Cards same problem. To get a decent looking card for a birthday or holiday runs you an easy 3.00. We have fooled ourselves that this conveys that we care more. When in reality it reduces our expressions of love to commercialized messages. Our ability to express ourselves and share our feelings has been so diminished that we must buy this expression. Half the time we don't even read the inside of the card (Hence my grandma sending me a birthday card "To her lovely niece.")
My suggestion this year. Boycott wrapping paper and cards!!! You'll find yourself with a few extra dollars in your pocket. If you must send a card, pull out plain sheet of white paper from your printer and write down what you really feel.
No comments:
Post a Comment