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Proof that, despite what certain well-known HN users will so vociferously swear, advertising is not essential to the modern economy.
by na85 5y ago
Proof that, despite what certain well-known HN users will so vociferously swear, advertising is not essential to the modern economy.
- redis_mlc 5y agoIt's not proof, it's an exception. Also, Sriracha can be litigious: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/05/sriracha-maker-loses-lawsuit-to-its-former-jalapeno-grower.html https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/05/sriracha-maker-loses-lawsuit...
- thaumasiotes 5y ago> Also, Sriracha can be litigious Not in the context here - that's not a suit over IP. The basis of the suit is "we overpaid you by $1.4 million, and you refused to return our money". There is nothing strange or even questionable about such a suit, nor is there any reason to view it as an indicator of undesirable practices.
- modeless 5y ago> There is nothing strange or even questionable about such a suit When the final result is an award of $14 million against them plus $10 million in punitive damages, by unanimous jury verdict, it is absolutely questionable and potentially an indicator of undesirable practices.
- contravariant 5y agoGuess this goes to show how much trust the U.S. has in its own legislative system.
- gradschoolfail 5y agoAssuaging FOMO is a need, that is, essential to the sanity of advertisers, and indirectly, investors. I don’t know if the sanity of some of the more well-fed people in the economy is essential to the economy…
- tpetry 5y agoThe sauce business started in the early 1980s, almost 40 years ago. A lot has changed in the last 40 years. You wouldn‘t even be able to replicate this today because of food health rules.
- shoto_io 5y agoHow do you derive such a conclusion with n = 1?
- hervature 5y agoIt is a proof by contradiction. Essential meaning any successful business necessarily needs ad spend. Here is an example proving that statement false.
- austhrow743 5y agoThis is very confusing. Is your definition of "the modern economy" one in which sauce is sold?
- rrrrrrrrrrrryan 5y agoIs... there no sauce sold in your version of the modern economy?
- austhrow743 5y agoI don't have a strong concept of what "the modern economy" is and would only see myself using it within a context that makes it clear im comparing it to some non modern economy. Which I dont think would ever be sauce.
- rrrrrrrrrrrryan 5y agoI think people here are using the term to describe the present-day economy. In that sense, fax machines and beepers aren't really part of the modern economy, but hot sauces very much are.
- Alupis 5y agoNot quite. Sriracha is probably the most marketed sauce in existence... just not advertised directly from the "original" manufacturer. Fast food chains, chip companies, beef jerky, almonds, other seasonings and more all spend a considerable amount advertising their products include Sriracha. Sriracha's popularity mostly began when these companies started to introduce products with it to everyday people. It's not like Sriracha didn't exist prior to 2010... I would be surprised if Huy Fong Foods, the company behind the popular US variation, didn't have something to do with the initial deals that got all this going. Clever marketing, indeed.
- rapind 5y agoTo a marketer everything is marketing. Make a good product? Clearly that’s marketing… I wonder how much they spent on not spending? /s
- moftz 5y agoSriracha isn't trademarked in any way. Anyone can make it and sell it in a similar bottle. Unless some restaurant specifically mentions Huy Fong or shows the rooster logo, the sriracha they are using is probably a generic version made from garlic and chilis.
- sremani 5y agoTry imitating exception to rules at your own peril.
- dalbasal 5y agoThat's quite a stretch. Existence proof for a particular isn't hard to come by. Lots of companies (including google & facebook, ironically) blew up without sales or marketing playing a significant role. The "modern economy" OTOH, is big. Advertising (either selling or buying) a core piece of the business model of many of the largest companies. Everything that touches them touches advertising and everything that touches them is a massive part of the economy. This might suggest that advertising needn't be essential, not that it isn't. Wikipedia & Linux might suggest that IP and shareholders needn't be necessary to the modern economy. But IP and shareholders certainly are, currently, necessary to the way it works.
- killingtime74 5y agoYou realise marketing and advertising are two different concepts right
- JohnWhigham 5y agoI don't have a problem with "dumb" advertising. It's when a profile is kept on me that a line is crossed.
- csunbird 5y agoAdvertising is essential, you need people to know about your product somehow. People will not buy something they do not know, especially when there is competition. The methods that are in use in current times on the other hand...
- na85 5y ago>Advertising is essential, you need people to know about your product somehow. TFA explicitly contradicts your opinion.