Category Archives: Essay

The new world of communication, and its implications for children’s health

Posted on 28/12/2012 by

During the past forty years global rates of overweight and obesity have risen dramatically. In 2010 more than 155 million children worldwide were overweight (more than one in ten) and of these approximately 30-45 million were obese, or between two … Continue reading →

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Why schools and corporate brands shouldn’t mix

Posted on 29/03/2012 by

The furore following the announcement that Jenny Craig CEO Amy Smith would address a gathering of hundreds of girls’ school teachers has once again brought the uncomfortable issue of corporate presence in schools to light. The public response – that … Continue reading →

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How people choose in volatile times

Posted on 01/03/2012 by

In a 2008 paper on neuroeconomics, Carnegie Mellon University economist George Loewenstein said: “Whereas psychologists tend to view humans as fallible and sometime even self-destructive, economists tend to view people as efficient maximisers of self-interest who make mistakes only when … Continue reading →

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Competition… at any cost

Posted on 24/11/2011 by

Global food giant Heinz has made a bit of a fuss about the growth of private-label or in-house brands in our major supermarkets. William Johnson, executive chairman, CEO and president of the $US16.4 billion company, complained to shareholders in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Branding, Consumer Behavior, Essay, Ethics, Human Behavior, Philosophy | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

My name is [insert name here] and I’m a Mormon

Posted on 10/11/2011 by

I’ve written a lot about the effectiveness of advertising elsewhere on tribalinsight, and more specifically whether the advertising of religion is going to lead to converts. But thanks to a call from a current affairs program, I was recently alerted … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Essay, Ethics, Philosophy | 5 Comments

Are doubts about consumer confidence justified?

Posted on 15/07/2011 by

Consumer confidence has fallen by 8.3% to its lowest level in two years, according to the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index. The drop has been connected to speculation about the impact of the carbon tax, with Treasurer Wayne Swan calling … Continue reading →

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Of cybermen and the end of relationships

Posted on 26/05/2011 by

The executive director of the venerable New York Times has come out fighting against Facebook and other social media. Bill Keller has joined the conga line of commentators decrying the end of friendships and knowledge as we know it by … Continue reading →

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It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it, Part One

Posted on 06/05/2011 by

Despite a clear and substantial increase in the amount and quality of information available to the modern consumer through globalisation, and communication advances, we still don’t always make decisions that are in our best interests, particularly in the areas where … Continue reading →

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Why Voda (and all the others) fail

Posted on 28/01/2011 by

Does anyone have a sense of déjà vu? From mid 2007 to early 2009, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) received an increase in complaints from consumers of more than 40 per cent. More than a third of the complaints to … Continue reading →

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When advertising is shocking

Posted on 11/01/2011 by

On New Years day, as the Victorian and Northern Territory governments followed NSW, WA and the ACT by implementing laws preventing cigarettes from being put on display to the public, the Australian Medical Association called for a $25 million TV … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Consumer Behavior, Essay, Ethics, Research | Tagged , , | 1 Comment