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That was B2B - it was a golf course brag for executives. Customers camping outside Apple stores was something different. That's personal identity defined by not

by dbspin 2y ago

That was B2B - it was a golf course brag for executives. Customers camping outside Apple stores was something different. That's personal identity defined by not merely consumption, but parasocial relationship to a brand.

defrost 2y ago
> Scale changes as population grows and usage deepens. ^ IBM was the brand in a time when no computing products existed for the Man on the Clapham omnibus. Earlier examples of consumers having a parasocial relationship with a branded identity exist, just not particularly in the computing tech field. Dresses, artworks, perfumes, performers have famously had cult like followings in times past - Lisztomania had fans camping out for a glimpse and prime seats.
fmbb 2y ago
Isn’t that just because apple was the first computer brand people liked? Surely there were other product launches people queued for before? People queue for films and sneakers and consoles and graphics cards and cars. I’m sure freaks queue for CPU architecture launches.
fingerlocks 2y ago
Apple isn’t unique. There’s all sorts of products like that. Concert tickets, sports events, recreation permits, and especially video game stuff. People camped out when the Nvidia RTX 30xx series launched a few years back. There was a massive line of people, a real wtf moment. That’s just a graphics card.
- dbspin 2y ago
  Video games are a good counter example. The others you've listed are fandom specific which is distinct from having a relationship with a brand per say. I hadn't heard about camping for the 30 series, thats nuts.
- crtasm 2y ago
  Event tickets don't feel comparable - the new Apple gadget will be on shelves ongoingly but tt might be a very long wait to see your favourite band play again.
JKCalhoun 2y ago
I'm reminded of teenagers chasing the Beatles from their limos to the hotel entrance. "Customers"? "Brand"?
- defrost 2y ago
  Question Marks? Customers==people that purchase records, tickets, merch, official fanzines, etc. Brand==Manufactured PR image sustained by managers, PR staff, consultants to industry, etc.

by dbspin 2y ago

defrost 2y ago

> Scale changes as population grows and usage deepens. ^ IBM was the brand in a time when no computing products existed for the Man on the Clapham omnibus. Earlier examples of consumers having a parasocial relationship with a branded identity exist, just not particularly in the computing tech field. Dresses, artworks, perfumes, performers have famously had cult like followings in times past - Lisztomania had fans camping out for a glimpse and prime seats.

fmbb 2y ago

Isn’t that just because apple was the first computer brand people liked? Surely there were other product launches people queued for before? People queue for films and sneakers and consoles and graphics cards and cars. I’m sure freaks queue for CPU architecture launches.

fingerlocks 2y ago

Apple isn’t unique. There’s all sorts of products like that. Concert tickets, sports events, recreation permits, and especially video game stuff. People camped out when the Nvidia RTX 30xx series launched a few years back. There was a massive line of people, a real wtf moment. That’s just a graphics card.

dbspin 2y ago
Video games are a good counter example. The others you've listed are fandom specific which is distinct from having a relationship with a brand per say. I hadn't heard about camping for the 30 series, thats nuts.
crtasm 2y ago
Event tickets don't feel comparable - the new Apple gadget will be on shelves ongoingly but tt might be a very long wait to see your favourite band play again.

JKCalhoun 2y ago

I'm reminded of teenagers chasing the Beatles from their limos to the hotel entrance. "Customers"? "Brand"?

defrost 2y ago
Question Marks? Customers==people that purchase records, tickets, merch, official fanzines, etc. Brand==Manufactured PR image sustained by managers, PR staff, consultants to industry, etc.