The title definitely says it all. This Saturday the 29th, people around the world are making a pact to say no to shopping to prove to themselves and the media that we do not need consumerism! For twenty-four hours, people will barricade their wallets and make a statement that the solution to the economic crisis is NOT spend, spend, spend. In fact, for personal financial security, it should be save, save, save, but the greed of the government and media still pushes its expectations on us. Which is why we will stand together and say NO!
Don’t get me wrong though, I have never been one to hate shopping. In fact, working in the high-end retail business since I was sixteen, I am an avid shopper for the latest fashions. Not to mention working in a mall and going to school with a William’s available causes me to spend more than my allotted budget on food. What can I say? I am a consumer.
The ideology that the higher the price, the more fashionable you are has never been my philosophy though. Working for Jacob currently, I see women of all shapes and sizes come in thinking that after paying $98 for a shirt they will be more accepted than the women who bought her shirt from Wal-Mart. I am sorry to say ladies, that this is not the case.
Did you know that those “no name” brands of clothing, food, electronics, etc. are usually made from the some manufacturers but just shipped out to different companies who then either put a label on them and hike up the price or choose to sell it as is for the price it’s worth. It’s true. Yet, no matter how many times this can be proven, there will still be the consumer demand for high-end label. Chanel, Dior, LaCoste, Pepsi, Nike… Why settle for Cola when it’s only a dollar more for Coke? Why not stock up on two hundred dollar jeans, they’re half price, you can’t go wrong!
Magazines, retail, fast food, and television all intertwine to rely on consumers to succeed. What good is having commercials if no one will buy the product? Why tell women what’s in style if they won’t listen? Why come out with a new burger each month if no one cares?
After watching this video posted on Buynothingday blog site, entitle “Good Consumer”, you really learn how much the economy and media truly relies on us to be “good consumers”. The one scary comment that stood out to me?
“Teach your children to be good consumers… they are after all the consumers of tomorrow.”
Let’s think about this one and in which direction we want the future of our world to go in.
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