Blog#5

Kangil Heo                                                                                                                               

Dr. Smith

English 101

25 March 2014

Marketing Strategies to Take Advantage of Children

In “Chapter 2: Your Trusted Friends” in Fast Food Nation by Eric Scholosser, the author focuses on Ray Kroc and Walt Disney who uses similar marketing techniques to manipulate and take advantage of children. For example, Kroc invents the famous Ronald McDonald and makes children think that he’s a “trusted friend.” Disney invents Mickey Mouse and creates this system called “synergy.” These marketing strategies do work because I have had firsthand experiences when I was a child. For instance, when I was younger I really wanted this cotton candy machine and begged my parents for one. Marketing techniques for children work really effectively and Kroc and Disney were the first ones to take advantage of this strategy.

Kroc and Disney were born in Illinois, and they both served together in World War I in the ambulance corps. After the war, they became successful business men using similar marketing strategies aimed at children. Kroc, eventually invented Ronald McDonald which was based on a clown. Ronald McDonald became so popular that it rivaled Mickey Mouse that Disney created. Kroc, also made children think that McDonalds as a whole was their friend and even infiltrated the school lunches. The parents were also affected by this marketing strategy because they felt a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. They were giving what the children wanted because it was also more affordable than going to Disneyland. The author also mentions how Kroc is a shrewd business man. Disney used similar strategies as Kroc but he sold rights to use Disney characters for a certain contract. This is called “synergy” which allowed other big companies to make cars, figures, candy, and etc. based on Disney characters. The children were more likely to buy stuff with Disney characters because they felt a sense of attachment to the characters from television and the Disney movies that they already knew. Both Kroc and Disney were one of the first ones to use and prove that marketing strategies manipulate children do work and took advantage of it.

When I was a lot younger around 7 or 8, I was also a victim of a smart marketing strategy aimed at children. The commercial was about a cotton candy machine and how you can make unlimited amount of cotton candy using only sugar. What kind of kid would not want unlimited amounts of cotton candy? I begged my parents for days and days but they told me it was unhealthy for me. When I began to lose hope, the commercial would pop on again reminding me that I really need that cotton candy machine. After weeks of begging and trying to make deals, I finally got them to buy it for me. When I did buy it though it did not work as it was shown in the commercial. It barely made any cotton candy and was practically useless. I thought it was the problem with sugar so I started begging my parents for different kinds of sugar. However, in the end the cotton candy machine did not work. I was tricked and taken advantage of a smart marketing strategy.

Schlosser focuses on Kroc and Disney in chapter 2. One of the main issues he addresses is the marketing strategies aimed at children which manipulates them and takes advantage of them. Kroc implanted the idea that McDonalds was their “friend” and also created Ronald McDonald. Disney created the “synergy” system which allowed other big companies to use the rights to use Disney characters. And I was personally tricked and taken advantage of when I saw the cotton machine commercial when I was at a young age. Marketing strategies aimed at children work really well and Kroc and Disney were the first ones to take advantage of this strategy.

Blog#4

Kangil Heo

In “Chapter 2: Your Trusted Friends” in Fast Food Nation by Eric Scholosser, the author focuses on Ray Kroc and Walt Disney who uses similar techniques to make their company what it is today. The author also portrays how the fast food industry takes advantage of children to sell their products using different kinds of advertisements. Making children think that the fast food industries are their trusted friends. Kroc and Disney were born in Illinois, dropped out of high school, and they served together in World War I in the ambulance corps. After the war, they became successful business men using similar marketing strategies. Kroc invented the famous Ronald Mcdonald and Disney invented the Famous Mickey Mouse. Disney invented a marketing statgy called “synergy” which gave away rights to use Disney characters. Scholosser, also portrayed Kroc as a vicious business man. Kroc and Disney used marketing strategies to target children and take advantage of them.

Blog#3

Kangil Heo

In “Chapter 1: The Founding Fathers” in Fast Food Nation by Eric Scholosser, the author focuses on Carl Karcher and the progress of the fast food industry. Carl was born in 1917, on a farm in Ohio. He later dropped out of school and accepted a job offer in Anaheim, California. While working at the Feed and Seed store in California, he met his wife Margaret Heinz and began his own family. Later on, Carl bought a hot dog stand for sale because he realized the number of hot dog stands opening and the number of buns being sold. Margaret ran the hot dog stand with her children while Carl was working for the Armstrong Bakery in Los Angeles. Eventually, Carl opened his own Drive-In Barbeque. This was around the time where the United States entered World War 2, which led to the population boom in California as well as the automobile business. After seeing success at McDonald’s, Carl also decided to open his own self-service restaurant called Carl’s Jr. Other fast food chains soon followed, the familiar ones are Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell, Dominos, and etc. The author also talks about other people other than Carl and how they started their own fast food chains. But the author mainly focuses on Carl and the general progress/evolution of the fast food industry. Carl had a lot of ups and down but Carl’s Jr. was an overall success. In the end, Carl was asked if he missed the old times and the old look of Anaheim, California but he said “No, I believe in progress.” 

Blog#2

Kangil Heo

Food is a very important tool in changing your physique and improving your overall health. Depending on how much food you eat or the number of calories you consume, you can lose weight, gain weight, or maintain your current weight. For example, I count my calories everyday using an app called myfitnesspal on my phone. By counting my calories, I can maintain a balanced physique and maintain my current weight by eating at my maintenance calories. If I wanted to lose weight I would eat less food and eat at a caloric deficit or if I wanted to gain weight I would eat at a caloric surplus. Because I count my calories, I do my own shopping separate from my family and also cook my own meals. I usually eat alone because I make my own food and track everything that I eat. And I usually eat anything I want but in moderation. At first tracking calories was a bit annoying but now, it’s part of my everyday life and don’t really consider it a hassle. I always try to eat all my food at home, because if I eat outside, it’s almost impossible to count the calories. But on the other hand, I am not too strict about it. I also like to go out and eat with my friends and have a good time. Food is also very important when trying to build muscle. I work out 4 times a week and food plays a huge role. For example, I need to take in sufficient amount protein every day in order to make sure my muscles can rebuild themselves. And need to make sure I take in plenty of carbohydrates before and after my workouts to fuel my body. I take in carbohydrates before my work out to give me energy during my workouts and take in carbohydrates after to spike insulin levels and to refill my glycogen levels. Food can have negative or positive effects on your body depending on how much you eat and what kinds of food you eat. For me, food is a very important tool to help improve my physique and to become a healthier version of myself.   

Blog#1

    

The Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) works hard to make sure the food Americans eat is safe. This is one of the major reasons why America has the safest food supply in the world. The author emphasizes this point by saying "The F.D.A. works hard every day to ensure the safety of America's food" The author wants the reader to realize how much the F.D.A. works hard to ensure the safety and the well-being of our country. I agree with the author form my own personal experiences and from things that I have read.

Without the F.D.A. working as hard as they do, our food supply would be contaminated and unsafe to eat. I personally count my macro-nutrients everyday looking at the nutrition label regulated by the F.D.A. I have a set amount of carbohydrates, fats, and protein which equates to a certain amount of calories. This keeps me healthy and makes me pick the right choices. Without the F.D.A. working hard to regulate nutrition labels, I would have never been able to track my caloric intake affecting my overall well-being.

Also, from the reading, the F.D.A. not only ensures the safety of our food, but also educates consumers to make sure the food they eat is safe. For example, the F.D.A. teaches cooking food at correct temperatures, properly handling meat, seafood, and etc. The F.D.A., also has inspectors at the borders to prevent harmful food from entering our country.They have 625 investigators working out of 20 different offices across the country to ensure the safety of our food. The F.D.A works hard all across the country.

From my own personal experience of tracking my calories and from the readings, the F.D.A. works really hard to ensure the safety of our food. The author also emphasizes and focuses on this point all over the article. The F.D.A. is the reason why America has one of the safest food supplies in the world.