Your Stories



1. Andrea
   Posted: August 27th, 2007 at 2:18 am

   This is kind of reversed, but I was irrationally anti-Nike in my University days because I read about the sweatshop conditions.

   To this day, I will not buy Nike, although I have no good reason not to. I’ll buy Adidas, Reebok, New Balance, Saucony, but Nike is never considered. It’s an addiction to being anti-Something-or-other.

2. Glyn
   Posted: August 31st, 2007 at 7:01 am

   Read the article in the Guardian weekend and wanted to express support. I spent a couple of years in London a while back and found myself starting to define myself by what I wore. Came to my senses after giving serious consideration to spending over £80 on a Tshirt. Lunacy. Thankfully I now live in the middle of Dartmoor and have few such compulsions. It’s easier here to define yourself by things that you do, rather than things I own. You have my sympathies attempting to re-evaluate your life in one of the world’s most money and status orientated cities. Griff

   ps I’d have found the Adidas trainers pictured in the article particularly easy to burn!

3. Colm
   Posted: September 1st, 2007 at 6:29 am

   About 15 years ago I was extremely anti-global, anti-consumerism and pro-environment; I was the angriest of angry young men. I read magazines like Adbusters, which taught me to hate brands and advertising, and I remember that I became particularly anti-television (there’s an anti-TV group called White Dot which claimed that TV was turning us all into mindless morons, an opinion that I bought into completely at the time).

   And then I got an education. I studied linguistics. I read standard, mainstream introductions to economics and sociology. And let me tell you, nine tenths of what the so-called no-global camp comes out with is no less brainwashing than what branded companies push down our throats. Today I question everything I hear, read and see, no matter what the source (including you, Neil!)

   Now I know that most charity is at a level that merely keeps poor people in their place. Now I can see that recycling is more politically-motivated than ecological. Now I am more convinced that free market economics will help developing nations much, much more than cutting greenhouse gases (even if global warming is manmade, which I frankly doubt; if so many educated people disagree, what hope do I, a non-scientist, have of knowing either way? I simply refuse to worry about it).

   And I now know that people are not controlled by TV. If they were, then how is it that some programmes fail while others succeed? And if branding is so powerful, then how do you explain why large companies fail?

   We, the people, are not a bunch of defenceless morons at the total mercy of multinational corporations and governments. We are intelligent beings and, while we certainly allow ourselves to be influenced by advertising and brands and so on, there comes a point in everyone’s life where they look at a product or they hear someone famous claiming something and they think, “I’m not buying this.” And it’s not just in democracies that this happens, either. Freedom of thought survived Russian and Chinese communism, e.g. through samizdat publishing. Many Germans and Austrians resisted the Nazis. Throughout history, it has proved exceptionally hard to stop people thinking for themselves.

   There’s a book, it’s called Everything Bad Is Good For You. It’s flawed – what book isn’t – but it has a very good basis. My own opinion is, if any group tells you that something is bad or wrong, then they probably have an agenda. It doesn’t matter if it’s Greenpeace or George Bush, whatever they say I will try to weigh it on its own merits.

   My philosophical journey has not yet finished, but I can see where it’s going: I am coming around to the idea that a full democracy (like the one they have in Switzerland, where everybody votes on every single law) is the best thing that we could possibly institute for the future of our planet.

4. Emily
   Posted: September 4th, 2007 at 11:59 pm

   When I first heard about your book Neil, I was amazed that such a person existed as took brands so seriously in the first place. Surely Fromm’s Marketing Character was an exaggeration, such a person couldn’t ACTUALLY exist? Marketers DREAM of there being people so totally uncritical of their messages. I’m still a little puzzled… as someone who very easily resists the constant media exhortations to define myself through product I find it really hard to see how an adult could… erm… believe the hype in the first place? Like… it’s so baseless, these advertising messages- they’re patently just such total bullshit. I mean they pay millions to get the word out about their crap, which they wouldn’t HAVE to do if it had any inherent usefulness or value… isn’t that obvious?

   I’m not, actually, trying to be bitchy, though reading over this that’s exactly how it’s coming out. You obviously are a very intelligent person, and I’m marvelling how such a person could be so duped for so many years. So I guess you’ve intrigued me enough to at least get your book out of the library, I need to know why you were so… pliable. And I guess there are a lot of other people similarly inclined or the brands wouldn’t be where they are *shrug*

   Again I’m sorry this is coming across as nasty because I am certainly glad you’ve seen ‘the error of your ways’ and I can only imagine you’re far happier for it. You have got me thinking about what shape the world takes if there are people who really are so obsessed with branding.

   At least I’m not going to take you to task for burning all your stuff )

5. MS
   Posted: October 2nd, 2007 at 1:22 pm

   Just had to share that I was at the Brand Licensing Europe Show at Olympia today. I feel violated. Several low points: witnessing Postman Pat’s rebrand to incorporate more vehicles (yippee – more toys for the suckers to buy!); being told by Marvel that the Iron Man movie/brand (due out summer 2008) was all about foil, all about yellow and red, all about good overcoming evil; being told by Marvel that The Hulk movie/brand was all about expansive technology (i.e. he gets bigger) and all about green… All about making shedloads of money seems to have slipped off the list. I’m far too cynical for all this – and I have to go back tomorrow. By the way, all the brands are at pains to point out that they are “very contemporary, very now”, apparently.

6. Tracey Bush
   Posted: October 26th, 2007 at 9:49 am

   You might be interested in my ‘Nine Wild Plants’ project. I was inspired by reading that the average Western adult can recognise 1000 brands and logos, but fewer than 10 wild plants. I decided to email all the people I knew to ask them to send me a list of 9 wild plants that they could recognise. These became the nine plants in the exhibition, and were made from hundreds of brands and logos.
   See my page;
   http://www.cga.org.uk/creative8/
   Or the blog review:
   http://nooza.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html

7. davis caruthers
   Posted: November 14th, 2007 at 8:26 am

   Brands are not all bad. They can help us to avoid dissapointment when buying expensive items. For example, the fact that I find adverts for Ford cars or AOL internet extremely annoying helps me to avoid buying their crappy products.

8. Jimin Kim
   Posted: April 18th, 2008 at 2:26 am

   I am Jimin Kim, a 22 year old BCom student in Seoul Women’s Univ. I read your book published in Korea. I became very interested in your ideas and the actions you took, and it gave me a chance to look back at my life. I thought I would share the story with you. It would be a great pleasure if you could read this e-mail.

   Many things have changed after I have read your book. Firstly, I found myself unconciously assessing other people subject to brands and advertisments just
   as you did. I also realized I was countlessly going through the process of measuring the values attached to the brands before I would choose the ones that would fit me the most. When I was heading towards the last pages I saw myself spending everyday so miserably full of stress believing this painful process is absolutely necessary. I seemed too small compared to all those happy-looking people in the TV ads. And as you have been hurt by Adidas and Nikes I rememebered the sore memories of being hurt by groups of people acting on the grounds I do not understand and felt what it is like to follow the odd rules that cannot be seen or traced.

   To be true I did not know why I was obsessed to ‘have’ a Lacoste or a Nike. I was brainwashed in front of the TV while surrounded by ads and people shouting ‘that is right, that should be envyed’. Like a soldier obeying orders I was a mere followerer of marketing and capitalism. But then, the ‘Bonfire of the brands’ opened my eyes. Now I know I have the same value without a Nike and I feel I am a complete and a happy being whether I buy something or not. The joy of a shopping spree is nevertheless valuable to me but now I can concentrate on the things that are more important to me, things that would improve the value within myself. Donating to the people in the Third World is one of my interests these days. As a Commerce student I am also deeply wondering what I should really ‘advertise’ and how I should be ‘marketing’ to the mass people.

   Korea is one of the biggest competing grounds of the World’s top class brands. Many Koreans are fanatic at expensive goods, buying and selling their value in terms of brands they use. Gathering crowds and enchanting them into an illution is no longer of an interest to me. Instead of being a marketer, I would like to be an alert to the era of capitalism like you. Now I have a dream of directing a documentary film that notifies the harmful effects of capitalism as a program director. I could refresh my sights towards my dream, my thoughts and the world because of you. Thank you so much. It is a terrible thought to think how I would be now if I did not happen to have your book in my hand. I might be in front of a Prada fantasizing myself.

   I hope your book can be published and become well-known in many other countries. Your bonfire is a flower of hope bloomed in this world. I support your ideas wholeheartedly and I will have a continual interest of your life without brands.

   One of the many Koreans backing you,
   Jimin Kim

9. anonymous
   Posted: April 21st, 2008 at 3:10 pm

   Hello,
   I’m now 21 years old. I recognized myself in your first day on school. When I was 12 I went to the high school and other kids asked me why I didn’t wear brand-fashion. I always toughed until then it doesn’t matter, but it does matter by most people.
   Fortunate for me, I’m really a Dutch boy, I don’t like to spent money.
   But for the last year I spend more and more. I bought a apple mouse for 45 euro’s (there are mouses for 7,5 euro’s!). I was sucked in the apple commercials and I was buying more and more brand-fashion.
   I thank you for writing the book, for your demonstration against the brands and for ‘saving’ me;-).

   Anonymous reader from the Netherlands.

   PS. I hope you understand my message, I was never good in languages and specially not in English.(don’t put this on your site)

10. Won Lee
    Posted: May 19th, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    I am Won Lee,who worked the importing business for luxury goods. At that time, so many people’s appetite for luxury goods is bottomless. I could made a lot of profit by business.
    At the same time, I could see the people’s insatiable desire. They want to show their value to other people through the extenal. The company abuse that and they arouse their desire intentionally.
    I could be aware that something was wrong.
    Thank you so much. I am so sorry my broken English.

11. M
    Posted: November 28th, 2008 at 4:53 am

    People might also considering “lowering” themselves to looking at second hand clothing as well. Many people discard perfectly good clothing well before it shows wear. It might be due to someone outgrowing it, or just a change in preferences by the owner, but there is a lot of quality used clothing at yard sale, thrift stores and places like eBay where large “lots” are often sold.

    I’d also like to add that parents should consider teaching their children from a young age that you are not necessarily what you wear. That is not to say they should use their kids as a tool to make a stand against all things commercial, but at least teach them a bit about moderation and the relative value of the things they see and want.

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15. Nick
    Posted: November 29th, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    Thanks Neil for coming out with these messages. I really enjoyed watching some of these videos. I want to add in though that I think the problem does not lie solely with the brands. Brands are the successful players in a capitalist market fighting for market share. They give the consumers what they want/need but I’m aware that they also influence the consumers future purchases with sophisticated advertising and marketing. Sometimes the quality of goods can also be determined by the brands.

    Overconsumption plays an important role because if we can cure that conditioned drive and urge inside us to buy and consume whatever we want as opposed to what we need, then that could influence established brands to readjust and provide us with quality goods that last longer.

    I think in Adam Curtis’s documentary “Century of the Self” he tackled the evolution of the consumer and I guess the conclusion was the overconsumption drive was pushed by Brand companies, giving us what we want.

16. browne
    Posted: November 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am

    It is great that you are spreading this truth around. I also enjoy your videos. I posted one on my blog and several people on Black Friday in Los Angeles have told me that it helped them not go out and waste on the biggest shopping day of the year in America.

    I’m currently working on the huge task of stopping the driving of personal motorized vehicles in LA. The car is a menace in LA culture. It makes us not see people. It gives us an easy way too spend large amounts of money. It provides us with our identity. I hope to get some volunteers to murder their car and I hope to videotape and be a comrade with you in speading the message of stop mindlessly spending!!!

    Great job Neil.

    Browne Molyneux

17. Maggie
    Posted: December 1st, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    I am 16 and a student at a typical American high school (in lovely Seattle, Washington). I spend many hours a day reading “Hollister” “American Eagle” “Abercrombie & Fitch” and “Juicy Couture” on every girl’s shirt in the hallway. I always scoffed at such lemming-like behavior, and instead sought out weird labels and logos to display proudly on my person.

    You’ve helped me see that a label is a label, no matter how small, and really I’m not much better than the mall-girls! Thank you.

    ALSO, SOME MORE GREAT FURTHER READING:
    Scott Westerfeld’s 2004 novel SO YESTERDAY explores brands and consumerism, especially in youth culture. It’s an action-filled adventure and I highly recommend it to younger brand-scorning anti-consumers. Definitely taught me the value of a logo!

18. Nils
    Posted: January 7th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

    I never understood why brands seemed so important to so many people, anyway. First of all, I never wore any clothes or shoes with any visible logo on them, and I never will, if I can avoid it. The same goes for rucksacks, bags, and everything I carry around. If somebody happens to give me a rucksack with some logo on it, I will take a razor and carefully remove it, and then paint the rucksack with my own designs.

    When it comes to long-lived household items, electronics, computer hardware, etc., I tend to buy things that come at a reasonable price, and can be expected to last for a long time. I don’t switch to any new technology just because the old stuff is “outdated”. I keep my furniture until it falls apart (and I’m quite good at repairing it), and since I’m not at all concerned with fitting in (I’m part of the Gothic subculture, have connections to other subcultural and countercultural movements, and don’t give a shit about mainstream culture), I don’t care about fashion, I just buy something utterly black and alter it to fit my style.

    My parents tend to ask me why I don’t use my big brain to make big money. I answer that I don’t need more money than I have, and that I would have to sell my soul to the machine in order to earn the sums they think I should have. I’ll rather stay who I am, and if I happen to have a little more money than usual, I tend to spend at least a part of it on Fair Trade products…

19. nicky
    Posted: February 7th, 2009 at 2:04 am

    I sort of stopped shopping and stopped paying attention to brands both out of necessity and out of a desire to do so. I’m an artist my late 20′s, after moving away from my parents, I just never bought a TV. (I don’t like all the sexist/racist/homophobic stereotypes on TV and the fact that all the “heros” are straight-white-males)…So, TV always bugged the heck out of me. I never watched, and thus I never bought one. I draw, paint, do ceramics and sculpture instead. Not buying a TV is probably the biggest most important “Tip” that I could recommend. STOP watching TV…it will help immensely.

    Anyway…what also necessitated the rest of my divergence away from brand-reliance is my health problems. I ended up spending a lot of money on doctors and medicine because here in the U.S. most of us don’t have proper health care. Although I had always shopped at thrift stores and wore hand-me-downs even as a teenager, however, later on I stopped buying new things altogether and started buying all my clothing second hand, or making them myself (i’m also a seamstress/quilter/knitter/crocheter.) I don’t have a lot of extra money because artists generally don’t make that much (of which is sort of a blessing in a way)…So, my usual monthly purchases consist of food, medicine, cat supplies, and artist materials. I don’t go to movies, I don’t go to amusement parks, and I rarely eat out.

    Also, some advice that I have for women concerning “hygiene” and stuff. The “beauty” industry has us convinced that we need to have all these things just to make ourselves presentable to the outside world. Makeup, hair products, cremes, deodorants, special shavers, gels, all this worthless “stuff”. Ladies, we don’t need half this stuff (really we don’t need any of it, but I know it can be total shock going from 21 different beauty products to none). Anyway, this is what I do. I have a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s all purpose soap. This can replace about 5 different “beauty products”, use it for shaving, body wash, face, hands, you can even use it on your hair, for your laundry and cleaning dishes. Anyway, along with the Dr. Bronners all purpose soap, I use a no-ad shampoo. Most women, if we wear our hair natural, don’t even need to put any product in it. I was surprised to discover how much softer my hair felt after I stopped using gel/mousse/spray. As far as makeup goes, I use a kohl pencil that can double as eyeliner/shadow if you smudge it…and then some lipgloss/balm. In the winter I don’t use deodorant because I don’t sweat, however in the summer sometimes I’ll use an organic product if it’s really hot out. And that’s basically it, my whole routine went down from like 20 products to about 4 (including soap/shampoo). It’s amazing how much time/money you will save…and strangely enough, you feel a lot better now that you are not fussing over every little hair.

    Also ladies (men you can skip this paragraph) One other thing that I changed was my pads (yes, those kind, I know it sounds strange, but just bear with me). Companies like Tampax and Kotex have conditioned women into thinking that we NEED to spend all this money every month at the drugstore just because we have periods. Well there was a time before all these disposable pads/tampons existed…and women got by just fine. Actually when companies like Kotex first came out with disposables, they couldn’t even give them away to women (that’s how much women didn’t want to use them) So about 8 years ago, I switched to a product called “the keeper” and also rewashable cloth pads (which you can make yourself or purchase online). I’ve probably already saved over a thousand dollars just by not having to lay down a bunch of cash each month just to bleed…and I’m keeping piles of disposable pads out of the landfills…and to tell you the truth the washable cloth pads are soooo much more comfortable and thinner than the diaper like disposables. Every woman that I have ever known that has tried the switch always says how she’ll never go back to buying disposables. Trust me on this.

    Okay men, you can continue reading…except basically I’m done. I think the tips here are great, I’ve definitely practiced most of them to some degree or another at least unconsciously. I think the first Tip is the most important first step. Avoid as much advertising as possible…it’s hard, but like I found out, eliminating TV sure can help. One thing that wasn’t really mentioned, however, that I think is important…is to pay attention to the many different stereotypes that are promoted by media and advertising. Gender stereotypes are especially pernicious. Many of you have probably already noticed the hyper-masculinized stereotypes that are often promoted that appear to be telling men that they “need” to drink such and such beer, and drive so and so car, and subscribe to this and that pay-per-view sports show, and join this particular gym, (well the list goes on and on of things you need to have and do in order to be a “real man”). The same is true with the hyper-feminized stereotype of women that is promoted by media…this hollow shell of a person whose only care is her appearance and whose only goal is seeking approval from other based on what she’s wearing, buying, looks like, etc. (Note there’s also various racialized stereotypes within gender that seek to promote a certain image of say “black masculinity” which then in turn is associated with various products and brands that are promoted to the consumer as well) So, men and women, don’t buy into these stereotypes. I’m sure Neil would be much better at explaining this type of stuff than I (and I’m sure there’s some discussion somewhere that I just missed)…So I’ll leave it at that because I’m going to continue exploring the site now….

20. Sarah from the States
    Posted: February 14th, 2009 at 11:43 am

    i’m 14 years old and starting to see all this advertising everywhere, and about 98% of my friends getting sucked into it. i’m just beginning this lifestyle, and i think i will be able to go through with it better once i am out of the house, but i’ll see… i am having trouble connecting with many of my peers now, though. and also having trouble WANTING to do so. i have friends, yes – actually many of them are adults… but for example yesterday i somehow allowed my friend to drag her along to see Friday the 13th and everyone was chuckling at the sex and the talking babies and the marijuana and my friend was like, what’s wrong? you aren’t laughing with us! and… i don’t know, when i told my dad about it he said, “it’s like you’ve been unplugged from the Matrix huh?” which is obviously an exaggerated example but it’s sort of the case… i don’t know.

21. Ted Drake
    Posted: March 11th, 2009 at 7:48 am

    I have a secure future until people started screwing with the basics of consumerism, now people are even choosing Not To Eat so not only will they look like skinbags but so they can afford the clothes they starved themselves to fit into!
    WISE UP!
    There is no designer this and designer that, it’s ha fooled you! this, and ha took your money for that!

    Before you jump to conclusions, Farmers are NOT RICH
    We are the new slave labour!
    The farm i’ve grown up on has been in the family for generations, my dad has worked it since he was 12 years old,
    but since There Is No Designer Milk, and Designer Wheat,
    we have floated just above bankruptsy for the last 8 years!
    WISE UP!
    What do we need every day to survive?
    The Labour Government has been systematically wiping us out in an attept to make us unprofitable, AND IT’S WORKING!
    This is exactly what they are doing to the postal service!
    They’ve sold 4000 post offices in order to try and crush the service, that didn’t work so they let TNT deliveries cherry pick all the best orders going through royal mail,
    and argue repeatedly “Royal mail are losing money”, LIES!!
    WISE UP!!!
    Despite the fowl play the labour government has attempted to employ the ROYAL MAIL MADE A 4 MILLION POUND PROFIT LAST YEAR!!! FACT! TNT A PRIVATE COMPANY STILL MADE A LOSS OF 400,000 POUNDS!!!
    WISE UP PEOPLE!!!
    YOUR GOVERNMENT IS AND HAS BEING SELLING YOU OUT FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS FROM RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE!!! THE BIGGEST FALL IS YET TO COME..
    WISE UP!!!!!!!!!!

    TONY BENN FOR PRIME MINISTER!

22. Abinash Padhi
    Posted: April 7th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    “There is only one corner of the universe you can change, and that is yourself, but in changing that corner, you change the universe.” – Chinese Proverb

    I am glad that you have changed and demonstrate that to the world. I am sure many people will introspect…

    When I passed out from college, I had the ambition settle down in a good job, buy a car, house etc… and thought will be happy after getting all that I need. I worked for ten years for different sectors from IT to Banking. In these ten years of hard work, I acquired all the things I wanted. Now look at what I did not get…. I wanted to visit different places…and got 2 holidays in last ten years. I wanted to spend more time with family, go out to play and did not get any of those… Instead, I got bad health as bonus along with my yearly bonus which I have to spend for these brands…

    One day, I decided enough…and moved out of the job. Left everything…including so called big brands. I don’t have a TV and a Cell Phone. I don’t go for shopping epxensive brands now. Though its a small step…now I get more time to spend with my family, time to go on for a walk, read etc… Thats because I don’t have to work hard for 70 Hrs a week to buy those things…

    All the best to you…Hope more people will spend less and live more…

    Abinash

23. Ruttiger
    Posted: May 18th, 2009 at 11:12 am

    Though I agree with some of your messages and thoroughly enjoy your youtube videos. I don’t think we should define ourselves simply because our disgust for branding. Just like we should not define ourselves by the brands we own.

    I think there is a healthy middle ground. I think for myself at least the middle ground is being very skeptical about brands and resisting the influence of them. But not so much that if I genuinely like something I refuse to buy it simply because it is a well know hip or trendy brand.

24. Demetria
    Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 10:58 pm

    I appreciate the message that is on this site.

    People do not make most of their choices in life consciously. We are subconsciously and psychologically drafted into consumerism, and remain captive prisoners, due to our personal vanity and out of control egos. It’s easy to lure the ego into consumption, through marketing that suggests that we will be more beautiful, more popular, more lovable or more successful, etc. if we buy this product or that product.

    The desire for immediate gratification is also a major force that keeps people in the bondage of overcosumption and debt. We think that we can only be happy if we buy what we want – right now.

    The capitalist machine and consumerism is a part of a system that is killing everyone’s spirit, all over the world. Hopefully more people will wake up to the fact that buying things that we don’t need at prices we can not afford is really the slow death of the soul and our society.

25. TimH
    Posted: June 24th, 2009 at 9:16 am

    As a branding consultant I guess some of your followers might view me and the industry I represent as ‘the Devil’ incarnate!

    but i genuienly believe branding is not only essential but can be good for the soul. What your site refers to is the extreme failures of brands to live up to their ‘promise’ of delivering real value to consumers lives which can be blamed on how they market and use marketing. Today, marketing has become a jaded and cynical process to help many brands mask over their mediocrity. These brands have no genuine product truth and so instead use clever, witty advertising campaigns to engage with consumers. But this practise cannot continue. Consumers can son easily find out about brands in a ‘click’. Nike can longer be a ‘sqeaky, ethical’ brand nor can GAP et al and this can only be good news for consumers and consumerism in the future. But we will always want ‘difference’ in choice of products, services, politicians, banks, shoes….its what gives us humans our ‘identity’. we can buy what brand we want to buy from discounted to green to luxury, the choice I wide and liberating not suffocating.

26. Babelle
    Posted: July 21st, 2009 at 9:13 am

    I thoroughly agree that we should all keep a close check on ourselves – it’s easy to get carried away and think that we can buy into a certain lifestyle. However, I’m also a huge fan of creativity and fun – and branding can be hugely fun and creative. I love cheeky but clever graphic design for example – and various ‘brand exercises’ allow these ‘artists’ to make a living and add a touch of colour to what may be otherwise pretty bland products. I know that XYZ shower gel isn’t going to work miracles on my skin, but heck if it can cheer up my bathroom and make me smell fruity – I’m happy to spend a little extra for it. I do not, however, spend money on expensive face creams – I know my science well enough not to be lured by the pseudo-science ad campaigns that promote them. It’s important to be aware of the extremes.

    Branding can mean many things – it can simply be an exercise to clarify a business’s objectives. There will always be business, and businesses will always be wanting to find ways to make themselves stand out against the competition, or appeal to new markets. Branding can be done honestly, intelligently and creatively, and without the levels of manipulation that you refer to here on this site.

    Rather than brand all branding as ‘evil’, wouldn’t it be better to call for consumers to take more responsibility for their decisions? Consumers have more power than ever to keep themselves informed and keep businesses in check. With the internet, and all its fast-moving information resources, businesses are under more pressure than ever to operate openly and honestly – and I suspect that most respectable businesses welcome this development – they are, after all, closer to their customer base than ever. It’s easy to label consumers as the ‘victims’ of businesses’ money-making objectives – but successful businesses know that it’s in their best interests to please their consumers – the ‘them and us’ attitude is wrong, and does not make business sense.

27. feyza
    Posted: September 16th, 2009 at 6:53 am

    hi
    i’ an english teacher from Turkey.have u heard this country before?i guess so.
    anyway,after reading this blog and solving the tests i found out that i am slowly moving into being a brand addict.from now on i will try to stop this:D
    honestly,i would like to write A LOT more yet i dont have a lot of time as i need to go out:)
    thanx n bye

28. daznez
    Posted: September 25th, 2009 at 3:29 am

    Sorry – emailed and then found this page..

    My favourite quote is Socrates walking round his local market in ancient Greece, remarking “what alot of things I don’t need.”

    Alot of people feel that this crazy consumer capitalism is awry,
    but we don’t know why.
    Thanks Neil.