Timonen
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So as bowl season ramps up, I find myself being introspective. These games, individually and collectively, bring me so much joy that it's only appropriate that I give the sponsors some degree of contemplation and consideration. Now sponsoring a football game will never incent me to actually use a product, but I will take the time to learn your brand and consider you versus your peers. I don't expect you to actually read through, but writing it all out was a weirdly cathartic exercise as I examined my consumerism. Here's a summary:
Gildan New Mexico - Gildan makes sports/outerwear, of the less expensive variety. I admit that I'd never heard of them. I'm not a regular shopper for such things, but brand is somewhat important to me. I'll wear the house brand sold at Target but that's about the bottom. New Mexico is a state. I'm an indoorsy person, except for big cities which I love. I also don't have any use for turquoise. I concede that there's a ton of natural beauty, but know myself well enough to pass for a million other options.
Royal Purple Las Vegas - This is a motor oil. I cannot differentiate motor oil brands and admit that I don't change my own. I wouldn't use this product, though I would if I got a trip to LV for trying.
Famous Idaho Potato - I love potatoes and if side by side, I would select Idaho over those from other states.
R&L Carriers New Orleans - Similar to the LV bowl, I'm down with the city but have no use for the product, which is essentially trucking/shipping/logistics.
Beef O' Brady's - I don't have any of these near me, but I see enough from the commercials that it would not be a compelling destination for our weekend family meals out. In fact, the name is offputting and I would probably think less of someone who frequented (understand that's something I need to work on).
Sheraton Hawaii - So I have nothing against Sheraton. I would trust their hotels, but my company uses Hilton and my last company used Marriott...so if given a choice I would always choose one of those options. Sheraton has done nothing wrong, but is a victim of circumstance.
Little Caesars Pizza - This is where I really start to sound elitist, but no fn way. The incremental $5-7 to choose another brand more than makes up for the lack of quality and need to pick up yourself. Love yourself people. Leave the Little Caesars. Also, this is double whammy because the attached city (Detroit) is so shameful that they don't include it in the title of the game anymore! That's incredibly telling.
SD County Poinsettia - How limited is this market? I'm down with credit unions but live on the other side of the country.
Military Bowl Presented by Northrup Grumman - I'm certainly down with the military but they're not the sponsor. I'm not sure how consumers can really have an affinity for defense contractors. They make great stuff but not anything I'd pick up at Amazon.
Texas Bowl - I haven't spent a lot of time in Texas. Just some business. I hate Dallas because of the Cowboys, but think I'd have a great time there, Austin and in SA. I've also got good friends in Houston. Wouldn't visit otherwise, but is what it is. I could support Texas.
New Era Pinstripe - I have about 4 hats and comparatively shopped for all of them. 2 Nike and 2 Reebok. When I think of New Era, I think of flat billed and giant brand logos. I'm too old for that.
Belk Bowl - I don't really shop. My mom shops at one and has bought my wife a gift certificate from there...but this just brings scorn because there's no Belk within close vicinity of our house so my wife just resents the Brand...and my mom.
Russell Athletic - This was an Atlanta Company until Buffet's group took it over so I actually paid attention to it a bit. I never actually purchased it, though, and I felt bad for players on high level teams that had an agreement with them because it does come up short to Nike, Adidas and even Under Armour.
Buffalo Wild Wings - I've tried this place twice but would never go back if there's an alternative. I'll go to bars for UFC cards sometime and always choose an alternative to BWW. I don't think less if you like it, but not for me.
Bell Helicopter - While this would certainly come in handy to circumvent Atlanta traffic, I'm unfortunately not at a station in life where this is applicable to me.
Franklin American Mortgage Music City - Love Nashville but why the heck would I go there to find a mortgage lender?
Valero Alamo - Gas is the same anywhere. I have zero brand loyalty there so, I'd be happy to go to Valero if convenient, but would never go out of my way or pay more to do it.
National University Holiday - I'm done with higher education. Even if I wasn't, I would NOT be an early adopter of an online education...and would most likely not hire anybody with that as their primary educational achievement
AdvoCare - Ugh. I didn't think a sponsor could be less cool than Poulon Weedeater...but this multi-level nonsense has done the trick!
Hyundai Sun - I've got no problem with Hyundai, but it's likely not in the circle of cars I'd consider...even if it facilitated a fantastic trip to El Paso/Juarez (though honestly, is that something you'd like to align your brand with?).
Autozone Liberty - I'm a-ok with this one, but also wouldn't go out of my way for it if there's a NAPA or Advanced in between where I can get coolant or replacement lights or wipers.
Chic-Fil-A - Confession time, but I have this every Saturday morning. CFA is sublime. A winner.
TaxSlayer.com Gator - Mazda feels like such a reputable, top notch sponsor in comparison. I've got an accountant to do it...and before I did I used Turbo Tax with sufficient success.
Heart of Dallas - I can't actually tell what this brand does. It's got Dallas in the heading, which sounds fine...except that in 39 years I've never chosen to go, so I can't in good faith give it a green.
Capital One - Credit cards rub me the wrong way as a practice, and I understand that Capital One is a weasely organization. I don't begrudge them, but not for me.
Outback - So previously I admitted judging Beef O' Brady. That's for a burger and a sandwich, which really, is passable anywhere. Lowering your steak standards to be ok with this place is beyond shameful. Have some pride! You waited 45 minutes for THAT! REALLY?!?!
Rose Bowl by Vizio - TVs are commoditized to the point where I'm a-ok going for a lower-priced brand. Vizio is fine and probably on a similar assembly line to those and with the same price as those costing 20% more. Get your Vizio. If it busts in 4 years, get another one.
Tostitos Fiesta - I honestly don't really buy chips, but I think I would buy these first if forced. I would feel zero shame bringing a bag of these to someone's house. I roll with Tostitos
Allstate Sugar - I'm conflicted here. In all honesty, I'm sure they're the same as every other giant insurer. But I actually use them for multiple things, so despite having nothing positive to say about them guess I have to give them a green because I don't have anything negative to say about them.
Discover Orange - Oh how I wish that I could gush over FedEx here. I LOVE FedEx. Unfortunately, they don't sponsor this anymore. Why would anyone choose a Discover card? I miss the value proposition here completely.
AT&T Cotton - I'm close to these guys as they were giant clients at my last place of business. I'm also torn on their product set. HATE their mobile (it doesn't work well in my house) but U-verse has been a more welcome addition to my life than one of my kids (I won't tell which one). Oh the glory of no outages and fantastic channel selection.
BBVA Compass - Eh, it's a bank...and I don't see them around me...and it's a weird sounding brand. Would never switch to them.
GoDaddy - They provide a clear service and it's cheap. I think I would go there to get a domain, if I was even in that market again. I might find some downside as I did my research, but knowing nothing else, they'd be at the top of my consideration set.
Vizio National Championship - See above. A-ok with the Vizio, and you should be too!
So in summary, 9/35 brands are WINS. 26%. At first thought, that feels low...but really, saying you're down with 1/4 of the brands you come across through any medium is actually pretty good.
Gildan New Mexico - Gildan makes sports/outerwear, of the less expensive variety. I admit that I'd never heard of them. I'm not a regular shopper for such things, but brand is somewhat important to me. I'll wear the house brand sold at Target but that's about the bottom. New Mexico is a state. I'm an indoorsy person, except for big cities which I love. I also don't have any use for turquoise. I concede that there's a ton of natural beauty, but know myself well enough to pass for a million other options.
Royal Purple Las Vegas - This is a motor oil. I cannot differentiate motor oil brands and admit that I don't change my own. I wouldn't use this product, though I would if I got a trip to LV for trying.
Famous Idaho Potato - I love potatoes and if side by side, I would select Idaho over those from other states.
R&L Carriers New Orleans - Similar to the LV bowl, I'm down with the city but have no use for the product, which is essentially trucking/shipping/logistics.
Beef O' Brady's - I don't have any of these near me, but I see enough from the commercials that it would not be a compelling destination for our weekend family meals out. In fact, the name is offputting and I would probably think less of someone who frequented (understand that's something I need to work on).
Sheraton Hawaii - So I have nothing against Sheraton. I would trust their hotels, but my company uses Hilton and my last company used Marriott...so if given a choice I would always choose one of those options. Sheraton has done nothing wrong, but is a victim of circumstance.
Little Caesars Pizza - This is where I really start to sound elitist, but no fn way. The incremental $5-7 to choose another brand more than makes up for the lack of quality and need to pick up yourself. Love yourself people. Leave the Little Caesars. Also, this is double whammy because the attached city (Detroit) is so shameful that they don't include it in the title of the game anymore! That's incredibly telling.
SD County Poinsettia - How limited is this market? I'm down with credit unions but live on the other side of the country.
Military Bowl Presented by Northrup Grumman - I'm certainly down with the military but they're not the sponsor. I'm not sure how consumers can really have an affinity for defense contractors. They make great stuff but not anything I'd pick up at Amazon.
Texas Bowl - I haven't spent a lot of time in Texas. Just some business. I hate Dallas because of the Cowboys, but think I'd have a great time there, Austin and in SA. I've also got good friends in Houston. Wouldn't visit otherwise, but is what it is. I could support Texas.
New Era Pinstripe - I have about 4 hats and comparatively shopped for all of them. 2 Nike and 2 Reebok. When I think of New Era, I think of flat billed and giant brand logos. I'm too old for that.
Belk Bowl - I don't really shop. My mom shops at one and has bought my wife a gift certificate from there...but this just brings scorn because there's no Belk within close vicinity of our house so my wife just resents the Brand...and my mom.
Russell Athletic - This was an Atlanta Company until Buffet's group took it over so I actually paid attention to it a bit. I never actually purchased it, though, and I felt bad for players on high level teams that had an agreement with them because it does come up short to Nike, Adidas and even Under Armour.
Buffalo Wild Wings - I've tried this place twice but would never go back if there's an alternative. I'll go to bars for UFC cards sometime and always choose an alternative to BWW. I don't think less if you like it, but not for me.
Bell Helicopter - While this would certainly come in handy to circumvent Atlanta traffic, I'm unfortunately not at a station in life where this is applicable to me.
Franklin American Mortgage Music City - Love Nashville but why the heck would I go there to find a mortgage lender?
Valero Alamo - Gas is the same anywhere. I have zero brand loyalty there so, I'd be happy to go to Valero if convenient, but would never go out of my way or pay more to do it.
National University Holiday - I'm done with higher education. Even if I wasn't, I would NOT be an early adopter of an online education...and would most likely not hire anybody with that as their primary educational achievement
AdvoCare - Ugh. I didn't think a sponsor could be less cool than Poulon Weedeater...but this multi-level nonsense has done the trick!
Hyundai Sun - I've got no problem with Hyundai, but it's likely not in the circle of cars I'd consider...even if it facilitated a fantastic trip to El Paso/Juarez (though honestly, is that something you'd like to align your brand with?).
Autozone Liberty - I'm a-ok with this one, but also wouldn't go out of my way for it if there's a NAPA or Advanced in between where I can get coolant or replacement lights or wipers.
Chic-Fil-A - Confession time, but I have this every Saturday morning. CFA is sublime. A winner.
TaxSlayer.com Gator - Mazda feels like such a reputable, top notch sponsor in comparison. I've got an accountant to do it...and before I did I used Turbo Tax with sufficient success.
Heart of Dallas - I can't actually tell what this brand does. It's got Dallas in the heading, which sounds fine...except that in 39 years I've never chosen to go, so I can't in good faith give it a green.
Capital One - Credit cards rub me the wrong way as a practice, and I understand that Capital One is a weasely organization. I don't begrudge them, but not for me.
Outback - So previously I admitted judging Beef O' Brady. That's for a burger and a sandwich, which really, is passable anywhere. Lowering your steak standards to be ok with this place is beyond shameful. Have some pride! You waited 45 minutes for THAT! REALLY?!?!
Rose Bowl by Vizio - TVs are commoditized to the point where I'm a-ok going for a lower-priced brand. Vizio is fine and probably on a similar assembly line to those and with the same price as those costing 20% more. Get your Vizio. If it busts in 4 years, get another one.
Tostitos Fiesta - I honestly don't really buy chips, but I think I would buy these first if forced. I would feel zero shame bringing a bag of these to someone's house. I roll with Tostitos
Allstate Sugar - I'm conflicted here. In all honesty, I'm sure they're the same as every other giant insurer. But I actually use them for multiple things, so despite having nothing positive to say about them guess I have to give them a green because I don't have anything negative to say about them.
Discover Orange - Oh how I wish that I could gush over FedEx here. I LOVE FedEx. Unfortunately, they don't sponsor this anymore. Why would anyone choose a Discover card? I miss the value proposition here completely.
AT&T Cotton - I'm close to these guys as they were giant clients at my last place of business. I'm also torn on their product set. HATE their mobile (it doesn't work well in my house) but U-verse has been a more welcome addition to my life than one of my kids (I won't tell which one). Oh the glory of no outages and fantastic channel selection.
BBVA Compass - Eh, it's a bank...and I don't see them around me...and it's a weird sounding brand. Would never switch to them.
GoDaddy - They provide a clear service and it's cheap. I think I would go there to get a domain, if I was even in that market again. I might find some downside as I did my research, but knowing nothing else, they'd be at the top of my consideration set.
Vizio National Championship - See above. A-ok with the Vizio, and you should be too!
So in summary, 9/35 brands are WINS. 26%. At first thought, that feels low...but really, saying you're down with 1/4 of the brands you come across through any medium is actually pretty good.
