Listen, this subject is so crazy! I will not go down the rabbit hole about beliefs and symbolism. We could, but the internet is full of it. Let's stay focused on the tangible stuff. MARKETING! 🔔LABUBU's unethical marketing tactics are a subject so outrageous that this by itself should concern any parent. It seems that nothing is new under the sun, and marketing people who want to hook the public will not risk failing. They applied a lethal combination of proven methods that in the end will make consumers go nuts. And they do! All the tactics that I will cover violate ethical guidelines, such as avoiding manipulation of emotions, exploiting vulnerabilities, or promoting unhealthy values. And most outrageous is that they target children. Let's break it down, one by one. LABUBU's marketing campaign is combining 4 major marketing tactics: Celebrity Promotion, Mystery Box Sale, Premium Pricing, and Collectable Products. 1⃣ What is Celebrity Promotion Marketing? Celebrity endorsement is a marketing strategy where brands partner with famous individuals—actors, athletes, musicians, or influencers—to promote products or services. The aim is to leverage the celebrity's fame, credibility, and appeal to enhance brand awareness, trust, and sales. Originating in the 1700s with royal endorsements, it gained traction with figures like Lillie Langtry promoting Pears Soap in 1882. Social media now amplifies this, reaching millions instantly. Endorsements work by creating emotional connections and social proof. Consumers trust relatable celebrities, and neuroscience shows their gaze in ads directs attention, influencing purchases. A celebrity's expertise and alignment with the brand boost persuasion. 👉 Children, idolizing celebrities, are especially vulnerable, often unable to distinguish genuine endorsements from paid promotions, leading to emotional manipulation. 2⃣ What is the Mystery Box Sale Tactic? Mystery box sales involve selling sealed packages with unknown items at a fixed price, often discounted, enticing customers with surprise and potential high-value items. Popular in e-commerce and retail, brands like Amazon and Funko use this tactic to boost sales. The strategy leverages psychology, triggering dopamine through anticipation, akin to gambling. Limited-edition boxes create urgency via fear of missing out, appealing to bargain hunters. 👉 Children, with underdeveloped impulse control, are especially vulnerable, obsessing over the thrill without grasping the financial or emotional cost. 3⃣ What is the Premium Pricing Tactic? Premium pricing involves setting high prices to position products as exclusive, high-quality, or luxurious, used by brands like Apple and Rolex to target aspirational buyers. High prices signal superior value, tapping into the price-quality heuristic and Veblen goods, where demand rises with cost. This appeals to consumers seeking status or uniqueness, reinforcing trust in established brands. 👉 Children, with limited critical thinking, are easily swayed, believing expensive items like Labubu dolls are inherently better, manipulating their choices. 4⃣ What is the Collectable Products in Series Marketing Tactic? Collectable series marketing involves selling themed, limited-batch products to encourage repeat purchases and engagement. Popular in toys, trading cards, and fashion, it leverages scarcity, nostalgia, and community to drive demand. The psychological need for closure and the endowment effect make collectors value owned items more, while limited releases create urgency and FOMO. 👉 Children, driven by the desire to complete sets like Labubu dolls, can become obsessive, prioritizing collection over financial or emotional well-being. Labubu's marketing campaign, combining celebrity promotion, mystery box sales, premium pricing, and collectable series, is unethical as it exploits children's psychological vulnerabilities, contributing to mental health issues. These tactics manipulate emotions, foster compulsive behaviors, and promote materialism, overwhelming kids' limited critical thinking. Celebrity endorsements create trust and obsession, mystery boxes trigger dopamine-driven excitement, premium pricing equates cost with worth, and collectables fuel a need for completion, all intensifying anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem when children can't keep up. This multi-faceted approach drives a harmful cycle of desire and consumption, prioritizing profit over children's emotional, financial, and mental well-being. ⁉️Is this a sign that using a simple marketing strategy doesn’t work anymore? ⁉️Do you feel a sense of desperation? As a marketer, I do! ⌛️So, is LABUBU the most noxious marketing campaign ever? In a sense yes, but throughout history, there were others that laid the ground and some are still in motion to this day. Beanie Babies Craze, Pokémon Trading Card Game Packs, FIFA Ultimate Team Loot Boxes, Ryan's World Toy Line & Unboxing Videos, and even McDonald's Happy Meal Toys. 🙋‍♀️Thanks for reading! I am Simona Gabriela Buzatu, an advocate for ethical marketing, brand strategist and creator for the last two decades. I believe that marketing is a skill that everybody should learn. You can use it to stay away from traps or to sell with your heart. If you are a self-learner, free thinker, or entrepreneur and want to discover how to implement ethical marketing in your life and business follow me. Let's dive into this fascinating domain that combines strategy, philosophy, psychology, storytelling, design, and more. 🤝Let's connect! #labubumarketing #ethicalmarketing #branding #labubu

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Corporate gaslighting : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgh8e0dW0eQ

I don't need studies to point out the obvious. The brain, like other parts of our body, follows a simple rule: use it or lose it! #AI is a great tool for repetitive and boring tasks.

AI for content creation is like a black hole! People get lost in it. I had an epiphany! After spiraling for a few days and playing with AI, I just stopped! Brand strategy has taught me something essential over the years: when I’m overwhelmed, I pause and ask, “Why do you do this?” I write and create content because I’m passionate about my field of work. It makes no sense to create prompts so a machine can write in my place. It sounds so appealing—“it’s so much faster.” But in reality, it will never be better than what I can write. The copy may be nice, correct, and sometimes fun (if you tell it to be), but it feels off. So, I ask you: why would you want to be replaced by a machine? Is time so important that you’re willing to sacrifice creativity? Isn’t art a creative process that takes time? Don’t get me wrong—I’ll use AI for research, summarizing information, and correcting grammatical errors. It’s like having the old Google, the one that worked, while still searching by hand in a library. Silly, right? Gimmicky creations are fun for a while… but that door is closing. What will happen when everybody is a creator? It’s similar to what would happen if gold were everywhere: it loses value! No interest.