Has Target Marketing got a Bullseye on you?

Most of us know that companies talior marketing to fit the people they want to buy their product. But are we aware of how present it is in our lives?
There is marketing in ads, but what about marketing in the grocery store?
Marketing is so much more than a well place advertisment or a catchy commercial.
Target Marketing is knowing who your customer is, what their needs are, and what will persude them to purchase your product.
Is your market teens who have extra cash and think they will live for ever? Maybe you can sell them coffee by playing up the thrilling effects and the adult qualities of your coffee product.
What about the market of retired couples whose children have left home? if you want to sell them they same coffee product, you might try marketing it as a luxury, a peaceful moment of rich and fine coffee, and a product that gives them the energy to do the activies they enjoy.
Instead of selling cookies and snacks in big boxes and bags, Nabisco has reformated its cookies and snacks in tiny "100 Calorie Packs" to appeal to calorie and weight concerned customers.
This shows that Nabisco knew it's target market, and knew what would persuade them to buys cookies instead of apples!
Another example of Target marketing done at the product level is what I like to call
Ceral Box Marketing."
This is when the product is intended to appeal to children, and be used by children, but has to be something their parents will approve of. Most ceral boxes have cartoons on them, but they also have nutritional information on the front of the box.
While the kids are attracted to the bright colors and cartoon characters they know and love, the parents feel that they are providing good nutrition to their family. This marketing stragedy has been effective for over 50 years.
Ceral companies charge a hefty fee for this marketing stratedgy.
The same ceral in different boxes by different companies cost a completely different price.
Coca Pebbles cost over three times as much as the Malt-O-Meal brand!
So if you pass over the cheaper bulk ceral for the expensive Coco Pebbles, you've been Target Marketed, and the hit a Bullseye!