Individuality Boxed?

[TheTaraLeone]

Who here has seen those crappy Wal Mart commercials that promote individuality while everyone is wearing a label (a crappy one at that), and pretty much conforming to the norms of teenagers?

Should their 725 brand say "I'm an individual just like everyone else"? Perhaps they'd be better off saying "I'm a corporate tool, buy these clothes". Shut up, I am not shallow enough to buy your crappy promotional campaign or to believe that individuality is something expressed by something as superficial as what you wear.

Sad thing is there are a few kids who will buy it and go to Wal Mart thinking that they will be themselves, only to find out that thousands of people across North America have the same shit. I'm thinking anybody who buys their clothes from Wal Mart to fulfill that superficial need to be different should have branding iron placed on their forehead with the letters C H U M P on it.

Commercials like these make me glad I don't watch much TV (except when cool sports are on).

[Murf]

I don't mind them promoting the individuality of their products. That's just marketing. I do have a problem, however, with their commercials that highlight how "great" their employees have it, from their benefits, advancement opportunities, workplace community, etc. It's a lame attempt to counter the public realization of their mistreatment of employees, crappy wages and benefits, and the company's history of cutting corners on taking care of their workforce to keep prices low and corporate profits high.

[Harmony]

Murf said:

I don't mind them promoting the individuality of their products. That's just marketing. I do have a problem, however, with their commercials that highlight how "great" their employees have it, from their benefits, advancement opportunities, workplace community, etc. It's a lame attempt to counter the public realization of their mistreatment of employees, crappy wages and benefits, and the company's history of cutting corners on taking care of their workforce to keep prices low and corporate profits high.

Amen. I used to work there. It was horrible. I hated it.

[ilf21]

They're practically contradicting themselves in that commercial. The models are all styling and prepped up to today's latest fashions and the 725 label is practically imitating what is supposedly 'cool' in the teenage fashion industry.