Is the number of varieties of toothpaste offered under the brand name Crest at my local pharmacy. Yes, really. That's a score-plus-four tartar-protecting, cavity-fighting, teeth-whitening, citrusy/minty mouthwashing flavours to choose from, to say nothing of the choices offered by their competitors: Colgate, Aquafresh, Sensodyne, etc...
I'm reminded of that old joke by Henry Ford that you can choose whatever colour you want for the Model T, as long as that colour is black. The beauty of capitalism and open trade is that it has produced such variety that Ford's wisecrack no longer applies. The idea is that greater choice equals greater happiness.
So let me ask you this: does the availability of two-dozen varieties of toothpaste represent a response to market demand for choice, or is this an example of corporate marketers "creating" demand where it did not necessarily exist?
And a further question: does this plethora of choice make you happier?
Update: Check out this talk on behavioural economics by Dan Ariely. It is both funny and enlightening - during the talk he gives an example of what happens to the rate of jam-purchasing when customers in a grocery store are offered free samples from six choices of jam versus twenty-four choices of jam, then offered a coupon for jam. The answer will not please the marketing directors at Crest.
(photo: nick esder's photostream. PS: I want one of these)
Is the number of varieties of toothpaste offered under the brand name Crest at my local pharmacy. Yes, really. That's a score-plus-four tartar-protecting, cavity-fighting, teeth-whitening, citrusy/minty mouthwashing flavours to choose from, to say nothing of the choices offered by their competitors: Colgate, Aquafresh, Sensodyne, etc...
