1) Stock Up Sale at JC Penney: Shows the consumerist idea that we always need more things in out life, we need to "Stock Up" because we don't have enough stuff already.
2) Our Goal is To Make You Happy Realtor ad: This ad hits on all the hot words in sales. The goal of their business is not to make a profit, no not at all, it's to make me happy. They also provide friendly services, quality product, and a great shopping experience. They create a world where looking for a house is so much more than just a business transaction.
3) GNC Live Well: This line is posted under the name of their brand. They have created a world in which you must fill your body with supplements in order to somehow live the good life or "Live Well" as they put it.
4) A Little Starbucks makes the Shopping go Better: Starbucks knows that shopping is a kind of worship experience and they propose that they can make that experience even better. The ad says, "treat yourself we're right here in the mall." Starbucks managed to stake out their spot on the sacred ground of the mall in order to better the "experience" of the shoppers/worshippers that enter.
5) Give Gift Freedom: This is an ad from the mall itself. It is a gift card that works for any store in the mall and they propose that this gives the buyer "freedom". They are hitting on one of the empire words that lures us in. They create an illusion of freedom in order to sell their product.
6) Mall Layout: The mall layout has a cross layout which is both efficient and worshipful. This layout helps people get to all the stores they want to quickly and it is reminiscent of the tradition cross cathedral layout. In the middle of the X there is a grand open area with a welcome center and 4 towering pillars holding up the roof that makes you both feel welcomed and awed.
7) Apple Store: The Apple Store proposes that they can provide us with the "Ultimate Upgrade" by giving us a new computer. They claim that they will somehow make our life better by selling us their product. They also advertise using all the iPhone apps in the window to show all of the crap that we might be able to have if we buy the product. The upgrade is linked to an exponential increase in the amount of crap in your life.
Great observations, Scott! You've really given a nice, quick overview of the totalizing claims advertisers attempt to make when marketing products. Apparently good coffee, a nice computer and good customer service isn't enough anymore; we need to be promised "better" and the "ultimate" to "make us happy."
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