Barbie and the Consumers: A Story of Needs, Aspirations, and Nostalgia


In 1959 Mattel launched the Barbie doll available on the market, nevertheless, at the moment it was not a toy accessible to everybody, these women who had a Barbie noticed a number of wants happy The Barbie doll was an innovation on the earth of toys, with grownup options, a home, attire, stunning issues and a social life Many adults who of their childhood couldn’t entry sure toys now purchase merchandise that may clear up these wants not happy in childhood

When, in 1959, the toy firm Mattel launched the Barbie doll available on the market, it was not a toy accessible to everybody. The women who had it noticed a collection of wants happy:

Of achievement, for with the ability to have it. Of exhibition, with the ability to present it to their shut circles. Of affiliation, as a result of they belonged to that choose group that would have a Barbie. Of energy, as a result of they determined what conditions and what characters they wished to play within the recreation.

In addition, Barbie was fairly an innovation on the earth of toys (a doll with grownup options) and provided a sure order of issues (Barbie had a home, attire and fairly issues, a social life).

client wants

The actions of customers associated to the search, acquisition, use, opinion and disposal of merchandise rely on their wants, studying and expertise, and on the exterior stimuli to which they’re uncovered.

Some folks expertise in sure levels or points of their lives a sense of vacancy or lack at completely different ranges: emotional, social, bodily or psychological.

This feeling can happen consciously or unconsciously, and customarily displays unhappy wants and unfulfilled wishes or expectations.

delayed satisfaction

To fill these gaps, many adults who of their childhood couldn’t entry sure objects or toys that might fulfill their wants (both materials or belonging and illustration) now purchase, for themselves or for folks near them, merchandise that resolve these unhappy wants, unfulfilled wishes or pissed off expectations.

This sample is offered not solely with dolls or toys. It can even embody clothes, footwear, meals, or electronics.

The danger is that an unhappy want turns into obsessive consumption. Some options of this are:

Passion for collectibles (information, comics, toys, and so on.).Investing quite a lot of effort and cash in rising collections.Defining themselves as helpful due to what they use and possess.Seeking the feeling of enjoyment by way of the objects they purchase.Justifying purchases with respect to themselves with the phrase: “I deserve it.”

By understanding client gaps, corporations develop more practical advertising and marketing methods to satisfy these wants and desires.

A doll with aspirations

Barbie, for her half, fills related gaps for her goal market. Now it’s modern because of the premiere of the movie, however it has all the time developed a complete vary of merchandise and experiences of an aspirational nature: homes, automobiles, garments, skilled or social conditions (the surfer Barbie board, the veterinary Barbie workplace, for instance), and even buddies and pets.

Objects, experiences and promoting messages that align with the aspirations of customers who’re impressed by Barbie and aspire to be like her: an ideal, candy and multifaceted one who lives in a fantasy world, in a giant mansion and who has the proper boyfriend.

Barbie has reigned for years on the earth of dolls as a result of:

In childhood, by way of symbolic play, it stimulates empathy and the event of social abilities. It serves as an expression of id and aspiration by representing what one can develop into: instructor Barbie, physician Barbie, lawyer Barbie. Her aesthetics and elegance have fostered a singular mannequin of magnificence for years however, in recent times, has given option to range. to fulfill the necessity to possess helpful objects for essentially the most materialistic.

* This article has been revealed in ‘The Conversation’, you possibly can learn the unique right here.

Maria de Jesus De la Mora. International Business, University of Guadalajara

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