Month: February 2011

It seems like google has been able to integrate itself quite successfully in every part of anyone’s life.  Talk about successful expansion plans! Its new initiative – weddings!  And just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Google has set up a specific google doc that plans every wedding from start to finish – save the date cards, wedding favours, invitation bookings.  You name it, they have a plan for you! Now all couples can have a wedding planner without forking out a couple thousand dollars, if not more!  Once again, google has come to save the day with its advanced and easy to use technology.  They have established an ever trustworthy brand name, and their constant creativity and innovation just expands their market.

An article summing this all up: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8317667/Get-married-with-Google-Weddings.html

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, EVERYONE!

After spending last night researching for my marketing project, I was reinforced that Lululemon has indeed built a culture and signature for its brand. Lululemon is more than the omega signed brand that sells perhaps the most comfortable and stretchy groove pants. It embraces and sells a culture, a lifestyle that almost everyone wants to be a part of. The brand gives off an image of a hip, healthy and athletic west-coaster. It doesn’t matter whether the consumer of these groove pants is a 20 year old yoga instructor in Kitstilano or a single mother of two. At the end of the day, sporting pants with that logo will make the individual feel urban and fit – an image that our society praises, an image that everyone tries to emulate.
So how does all this tie into Sociology? Sociology is built around two strong theories – socialization and the need to belong. In sense, sociologists believe that all humans start off as a clean slate. But as they grow and develop, they are “drawn on” by society, and through that, humans build their personality and characteristics. Further, all humans have a need to belong – a desire to be accepted, to feel part of a social group. They will act a certain way, talk a certain way, and dress a certain way. But how do we, as humans, know what is socially acceptable? Through marketing! Through channels such as the media and advertisements, we are able to gauge what will make us popular. If the marketing tactics for a certain brand or image is strong enough, it will be socially accepted. Thus, the majority of us humans with a need to belong will purchase anything (clothes, jewelry, underwear, etc.) to fit in and be socially “cool”.