Kodak, Coca-Cola and McDonald's sponsor essay contests about why kids should stay in school. Advertisements stare at passengers from the walls and float down from the speakers of the elevator as they travel to work. While at work people on the phone are captive audiences as they listen to advertisements when they are put on hold. On the way home, a stop at the gym puts people face to face with a wall of advertising while they use the Stairmaster. On their left is a person listening to music from a bright yellow Sony Walkman cassette player.
Next stop is the supermarket and a shopping cart adorned with small billboards.
In order to capitalize on indecisive shoppers, the same products aren't placed in alphabetical order and higher priced merchandise is mixed in with the value items. Try taking a trip to escape the reach of advertising. Advertisements are even printed on air sick bags, Twitchell said. But there is no vacation from advertising. Chairlift towers now serve as billboards at ski resorts.