It's almost impossible to turn on your T.V or listen to the radio without hearing a commercial. All commercials are geared towards certain audiences. People buy into exactly what researchers and executives tell them to. There are several ways to target an audience.
Advertisers can go after people of a certain race.
If a product is geared towards people who live in the inner city, they will buy it. From my experience, if people see a rap star or a rock star wearing a certain type of jeans, then it will sell better than if some average guy wears them. If a commercial shows people something that they don't need, but the advertisement makes them feel like they can't live without it, then the add worked. This fish looks like you caught it except it sings you a little toon. This fish has absolutely no purpose in the world, but as soon as I saw that fish, I had the phone in my hand.