Disney Me Senseless!

I love to travel.  One of the major factors that keeps me with my current employer is the extremely generous amount of vacation time I am allotted.  Since my husband and I now have two small children, our vacation destinations have changed a bit. 

Recently, we escaped the Montana cold for a tropical respite that had all of our interests at heart....Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawaii! 




My interests

Their interests

After reviewing the Sensory Marketing section of chapter 2, I gained a whole new level of respect for Disney.  They have you experiencing the whole gamut from the moment you pull your rental car up! When we first exited our vehicle we were surrounded by Disney "cast members" that warmly welcomed us to the resort. 

TASTE:  We were handed tropical infused water to sip while they unloaded our luggage.  It was perfectly cold and very refreshing.

TOUCH:  Our children were presented with miniature necklaces that were adorned with a Menehune figurine (basically the Hawaiian version of a leprechaun).  My husband was given a lei of smooth, polished kukui nuts.  The lobby is completely open to encourage a tropical breeze to pass through. It felt wonderful.

SMELL:  I was presented a stunningly beautiful lei of orchids and tuberose blossoms.  Tuberose is quite possibly the most amazing scent I have ever encountered.  I remember them from my wedding so they definitely evoke the emotion of pure bliss for me.  This particular lei perfumed our room for an entire week. 

SOUND:  As we entered the lobby, there was a beautiful Koi pond with a softly flowing waterfall.  The sound reminds me of relaxing by a creek.  It also reminds me of the water feature usually heard during a luxurious spa treatment.

SIGHT:  Explaining will never do it justice.  There was an abundance of tropical flowers, ponds, and beautiful artwork.  Once we entered the lobby completely, a remarkable and expansive view of the ocean and lagoon filled our vision.  It took our breathe away.

All of this sensory overload occurred within the first 5 minutes and continued throughout other aspects of our stay.  I have had the pleasure of visiting Hawaii on several occasions.  This resort utilized my sensory system to create a competitive advantage over other resorts.  I will never stay anywhere else.  Mission accomplished Disney! 

Unfortunately while I was there I forgot about one of my senses altogether.  My sense of BUDGET.  Oh well.  Money well spent I suppose.

My son is never as impressed as we are!



Sheepish Envy

Hey, Grandma needs the latest smartphone too!

I work in a fast-paced technology retailer.  Specifically, we specialize in gadgets like smartphones, tablet computers, and the new world of smart accessories.  I have seen the evolution of how people use their phones.  I clearly remember when the cell phone was a luxury item and not just an average "necessity" for every person age 8 and up.  I remember trying to convince people that text messaging was the future of communication.  Most people laughed.  "Why would I waste my time doing that?  If I want to talk to people, I will just call them!"  Oh, how times have changed! 

 

One thing that struck me by surprise was the cult-like following of iPhone adopters.  During our first launch we were told to hire overnight security and put up rope barricades for the anticipated crowds.  We practiced crowd control and studied our fire code to ensure we did not break any capacity rules.  We did this wondering if it was a complete waste of time.  After all, we did hours and hours (and hours) of iPhone training and not one of us was actually impressed enough to buy one personally.  We underestimated the demand.  Thank goodness for all that practice and preparation!  There were actually people camping in front of our store overnight.  In February.  In Bozeman.  WHAT?!!  Let's just say that I am lucky I survived to tell the tale.  It was at that moment that I was convinced of what others clearly already knew.  Those people at Apple are marketing geniuses!

 

The book Predictably Irrational had a section that described the Herding Behavior of consumers.  Consumers have a tendency to be influenced by a majority of other peoples opinions.  In fact, the iPhone 5 was being hyped so much prior to its release that comedian Jimmy Kimmel was able to prank people by "revealing" it to them on the street.  You have to watch.  It is definitely worth a view. 

 

Jimmy Kimmel's iPhone 5 prank.  Hilarious!

 



I don't believe there is a single product that I would be willing to wait in a huge line for.  In a weird way I guess it makes me a little envious of the obvious passion those folks have! 

 

In the meantime at work, I continue to smile inwardly at the objections I hear to new technology.  "Why would I ever want a tablet when I already own a laptop?"  Oh, consumers.......

 

 

 



 

 

The Pawning of Ourselves

I admit it, I love this show!

During the reading of "Possessions and the Extended Self" by Russell W. Belk, I was fascinated by the Loss Of Possessions section.

As a child, we never really had a distinct home and, to this day, the question of "Where are you from?" is confusing for me.  Recently my children expressed interest in camping and I was talking to my brother about how I wasn't interested in camping even though we did it all the time as kids.  My brother laughed and said "You know we weren't camping right?  We lived there."  Really?!  How did I not catch on to that? Well, I suppose that explains my gut reaction to camping.

Anyways, what I do remember about those years were the frequent visits to various pawn shops.  It was a constant cycle.  When times were good, we would accumulate "stuff" and when times were bad, we sold everything again.  This was difficult for me.  I can definitely identify with the Loss Aversion referenced in the book Nudge.  Things seemed far more valuable to me than they were worth in dollars and cents.

The article refers to a grieving process for possessions that is similar to the grief in losing a loved one.  The grief goes through stages of denial, anger, depression, and finally acceptance.  The mourning is not just the loss of the utility of that item but also the loss of self. 

I wonder if the person negotiating the price often feels a bit like a counselor too?  Do they understand the grief and sorrow?  Comparing their skills to that of a funeral home director is ridiculous but I would think some of the same compassion and empathy would be beneficial.

As for my brother and I, we have chosen very different paths when it involves our extended selves.  I haven't moved in almost 15 years and have acquired a house full of "things" that I would be upset to lose.  My brother can fit all of his possessions in a backpack and happily travels from place to place without a plan.  He still pawns things from time to time...

Now this is something we can all relate to!