Black Friday!!!

It's time for one of the most celebrated days of the year for advertisers worldwide...BLACK FRIDAY!!!

That's right, the day after Thanksgiving - that day when moms, dads, and children alike are pulling out their check books and plastic and heading down to the nearest outlet mall for the exclusive sales put on by every store.

For example, Target, a well-known supermarket that provides the average customer everything from electronic picture frames to kitchenware, is gearing up for Black Friday 2009 with a number of ads; according to the Target.com website, these ads aren't yet available, but will soon be released. Furthermore, Target has announced they will open their doors at 5:00 a.m. to allow shoppers an early start. Yet, advertisemets say it may be even more important for people to get glimpses of the sales beforehand to prepare themselves and budget correctly.

Some of the sales that are going to happen at Target on Black Friday include $13.00 copies of the new Pixar movie Up, $88.00 Nikon digital cameras, $97.00 Tom Tom GPS Systems, and $246.00 32 inch Westinghouse HD TV's. That's just the tip of what the Target advertisement is proclaiming! I, myself, have been hooked by the Nikon camera sale - looks like I may have to be participating in the infamous Black Friday this year!

So, for those of you who are avid bargain hunters, Black Friday is a day full of hustle and bustle all around the country - but great deals will be in store! Just make sure you are there for the legitimate deals instead of the enticing new advertisements that will be posted up on every forum and around every corner - strategically placed for YOUR appeal and buying pleasure.

Subaru for sale?

With the sad realization that my beautiful Acura RL is not long for this world, I have decided to embark on a journey to look for a new car. Versatility, comfort, gas mileage, and good looks seems to be the dominating factors in my ultimate decision. Yet, in my automobile search, I have noticed, once again, that most car advertisements seem to be "nature" oriented. Not only are advertisers looking to sell sleek and modern new cars to curious individuals, but they seems to be doing so in a manner that says, "I'm both good looking AND eco-friendly!" It seems in today's world buying a car is about much more than cost and durability.

After mobbing through a number of possibilities, I believe I have settled on the Subaru Forrester (see photo above). Good mileage, "somewhat" affordable (depending on my negotiation skills) and versatility seem to be qualities this car possesses, not to mention it is GREAT looking! Though I know I have taken a thoughtful approach to my decision, all this study on advertising has me wondering...am I being sold based on the factual evidence I have been provided with or, am I being swayed by the picturesque advertisements featuring beautiful outdoor scenery and shiny, gleaming cars?? Protecting the environment is important, yet, I can't help but wonder if the ad's beauty is overpowering my sense of decision-making; I must say, I LOVE the outdoors!

Hmmm...through this search I have concluded that individuals (including myslef) are more subconsciously swayed than we even understand! It seems my heuristics may be altered by these advertiser's sneaky methods - hence, I will continue my search for FACTUAL information to make a well-educated decision, not an emotional gravitation due to a fancy ad.