ELMO Frenzy and Fads |

ELMO Frenzy and Fads

Posted by JOT on Feb 19 2008 | Sales&Marketing

From the Desk of John Kumpunen

Upcoming post

From fads to impulse buying to frenzy — what makes people go crazy … ready to kill each other over an Elmo doll? Why do fads happen? Are the lemmings at their worst when they think they can’t have it? And what happens to the mentality after this nuclear-fart marketing frenzy is over?

A 911 call captured what happened next:

“He told me he had a loaded gun on him and he’d have no problem shooting me,” the man tells a 911 operator. “What it was an issue over this stupid Tickle Me Elmo freaking doll.”

no comments for now

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Executive Summary

We began in 1985 as a creative agency and have now grown to a full-service marketing agency with television, print, and internet experience. We are in internet selling ourselves from a growing number of websites and we can sell on commission for you (outsourced internet marketing).

Our in-house capabilities include internet marketing and 217+ traditional marketing tactics, websites, sales video production, internet radio, iPod content, SEM, organic SEM, copywriting, trade press ads, illustrations, design, layout, photography, videography, audio editing, animation, websites, focus groups, surveys, webinars, set-up and maintenance of PPC campaigns, case histories for trade press, and trade-show design and sales support.

We assist with strategy, tactical planning, market intelligence, target audience profiling, market feasibility research, focus groups, customer surveys, hosting, psychographics and product positioning, and image and advertising semiotics.

Upcoming Topics

• Perceptual limits and cognitive overload in purchase decision.
• Consumer strategies when faced with information overload.
• The Marketing Cycle -- marketing is an ongoing circular loop of Product Universe, MoneyHoles, LoveProduct, Teacher/Advisor, Checks and Balances, Serial Improvement, and the Big Why taking you back to Product Universe.
• Comments on Jay's and Rich's Maven Marketing Manifesto and Source Credibility Research
• The Product Marketing Pyramid and what it means to small businesses
• ElmoFrenzy and what it says about the scarcity principle in buying decisions (scary stuff)