Lovemark- Vans shoes.

       A Lovemark is something that consumers like and buy for other reasons besides what the product does for them. We see them in our everyday live, Nike's will make you jump higher, Gatorade will improve performance. People buy these products because they think that it will be more than just a shoe, or a refreshing drink. We almost feel an emotional attachment to the product that causes us to buy the name brands, even if the off brands look, or taste the same.

       Personally, I can only think of two lovemarks that I have and those would be Apple products, and Vans shoes.
     
       One of the main reasons that I prefer and Apple products over anything else is the fact that in my eyes they represent the future. Apple is always coming out with new technology that blows our minds, and all their products are very visually appealing. To me things such as Macintosh computers are better built, longer lasting, more visually appealing, and more environmentally friendly than any other computers out there. Also when comparing the iPod to the Zune, the iPod is much more technologically advanced, they had touch screens first, you can get free apps on the iPod Touch, and they are easier to get music onto because most music is bought and stored in iTunes. When looking at any products whether its a new computer, a music playing device or a phone I will always choose Apple products over everything else.

       Apply also puts out that they have better values and morals than other competitor companies. They are always coming out with some new environmentally green batteries that won't help in the depletion of our ozone. Or a new recycle program so old pieces that could be reused aren't filling up our landfills. When I see someone with a Mac one of my first thoughts it "If they chose to have that mac over a PC they are probably more inclined to recycle."

       There is also the idea that people who prefer Mac's, or Apple products in general are more "hippies" and "environmentally friendly, because at least in my experience, when I walk in to Prescott College, or the local, "fair trade" coffee shop I see the majority of people using Mac's. The reason for this can go both ways. Yes, maybe some of those people to care about the environment, and want the best for our earth. But also, who wants to be the odd one out? A lot of the reason that people choose Apple products is because other people choose Apply products and no one wants to be the odd one out.



       Now the reason that Vans are a Lovemark for me is more personal. When I first started caring about my appearance, and I was beginning to figure out who i was as a person, my mother took me shopping for the first time where I was able to pick out clothes and shoes that I liked. I remember walking into Journeys shoe store and seeing the section of vans. They were all very visually appealing to me so I decided to get my first pair. I ended up loving them so much it was almost like a comfort thing to me, every time from then on out when I bought shoes they were always Vans.

       Over the past 10 years vans have been very popular shoes, they are comfortable, lightweight, and stylish. Van's company has done a very good job at keeping up with incoming and outgoing trends also. Van's are such  versatile shoe that there is almost one fore every kind of person. For the California surfer or the local skate boarder there is the original, for the goth kids there are black ones, for the scene kids there are bright colored ones, and for the hipsters there are ones with little designs or old fashioned floral patterns. No wonder they are one of the most popular shoes brands, they know what people want and they give it to them. That's why Vans are my favorite shoes out there.