Be honest, how much does marketing and advertising affect your purchasing behavior?

Not only marketing and advertising, but also what people buy in your immediate group or more generally in your local area?

Cars are a good example I think. Go to Vermont and you will see a lot of Subarus. I’m not sure why they are so popular there, but they caught on. Cadillacs in the US tend to be purchased by black people and older people of all ethnic backgrounds. Sometimes it is just availability. If there is a Corvette dealer in town and not a Porsche dealer, you are more likely to buy the Vette I guess.

Way back in the day Pepsi specifcally went after the African American consumer, they had one of the first black sales teams. Still today I think some of that brand identity lingers, although among the soft drink brands I would say race and ethnicity are not a significant part of brand loyalty anymore.

Marlboro cigarettes targeted women many many years ago, and then they switched their concept from Mild as Mary to the Marlboro Man.

What about computer brands and other electronics? Appliances?

Clothing? Food? Hotels? Cruiseline?

What really sways you if you really think about it? If advertising and group behavior does have an influence on your purchases, do you hate to admit it?