Branded items are not always worth the price
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself whether branded items are worth the price? Good morning ladies and gentlemen. The purpose of this presentation is to encourage my audience to stop wasting money on branded items to impress people. I am a credible source on this topic because I have experienced the disadvantages of spending money on branded items. There was a time in my life where I felt the need to fit in and went to extreme lengths to acquire branded items. When I could not afford to purchase expensive clothes and accessories, I shoplifted. As someone who is living in a society that upholds branded items, you should care about this problem because it is easy to get carried away by the crowds and waste money on unnecessary things. Through this presentation, I will identify the issuesissues that arise with purchasing unnecessary branded items and propose solutions to help teenagers avoid wasting money on purchasing branded items to impress other people.
Most teenagers purchase branded items to impress people. The teenage phase is a vital developmental stage in life. Therefore, teenagers feel the need to fit in and identify with social groups. The problem of teenagers buying branded items to impress people is not a new phenomenon, , and it continues to be a debate. In line with the American Psychological Association (2004), teens want to identify with their peer group, which makes them vulnerable. Branded items are believed to be classy and quality. Thus, teenagers believe that when they possess branded items, they appear chic and “cool” and attract friends. In line with Icard (2019), wearing brand names is relevant to teens because they provide a foundation on which kids can build feelings of normalcy. When I used to feel the pressure of wearing branded clothes and accessories, I went to the extent of shoplifting to fit in with my peers. However, I came to realize that I did not even see the difference between wearing branded products and unbranded products. Furthermore, I strived to impress people that I did not like. Therefore, teens should be aware that imprinted items are not agents of socialization. When one feels the need to wear branded items, it should be for personal reasons and not impress people who they do not even like.
Branded items are a waste of money. Branded items cost much more than unbranded items. Ideally, teenagers believe that branded items cost more because of quality and class. Therefore, teens end up spending excessive money to purchase unnecessary items. According to Gulati (2015), most teenagers spend three quarters of their allowance on purchasing branded items. At present, teenagers do not spend their leisure time in the mall shopping for clothes; instead, they buy products online, most of which come with an extra shipping fee cost (Kaplan, 2019). Typically, not all teenagers can afford the flashy lifestyle and donning expensive branded items. Thus, some teenagers develop deviant behaviors to achieve their lifestyle. As mentioned earlier, I started shoplifting branded items whenever I could not afford them. I cannot help but think of how many teenagers out there have started shoplifting simply because they cannot afford the branded items. Teenagers have been advised to live within their means, but the society around then lives otherwise. For instance, on social media, almost all people post pictures in branded clothes and accessories. Thus, teenagers feel pressured to waste the little money they have and purchase branded items.
The pressure of purchasing branded items has had adverse effects on teenagers and their parents. According to Abbas (2014), although children develop brand awareness at an early stage, little research has been conducted to show how brand awareness affects society later in life. Children develop and attach their emotions to material products. For instance, some teenagers do not associate with their peers because they are “uncool.” Teenagers are branded “uncool” when they do not possess branded items. However, teenagers seem to forget that there is more to a person that branded items. Teenagers make friends based on material possessions and disregard the personality and qualities of the person. Such traits will grow into teenagers, and they will be handed down to future generations. What then will happen to people who cannot afford branded items? Since expensive and flashy branded items have been turned into agents of socialization, people who cannot afford the things will not afford friends and family.
We must work hard to eliminate the importance attached to branded items among teenagers. According to an online debate held by DEBATE.org (2019), teenagers admit that although branded products are of good quality, it does not mean that ordinary products are anything worse. Furthermore, most teenagers admitted that peer pressure drove them to purchase products they did not like. Thus, all the frenzy about branded products is peer pressure. Parents and schools should work in unison to eliminate the importance attached to branded items. When the adults set an example, teenagers will feel free and interact freely, without first assessing whether their peers are “cool” because they were brands.
In conclusion, the primary purpose of this presentation is to encourage my audience to stop wasting money on branded items to impress people. Most teenagers buy branded products to impress people they do not even like. Also, branded products are a waste of money because unbranded products are also quality items. As I had asked earlier, are branded items worth the price? As I conclude, my answer is no. Branded items have become an agent of socialization, dictating the way teenagers live their daily lives, and interact with their peers.
Works Cited
DEBATE.org. Is expensive clothing worth the price? 2019. 10 November 2019 < https://www.debate.org/opinions/is-expensive-clothing-worth-the-price>
Gulati, Shruti. “IMPACT OF PEER PRESSURE ON BUYING BEHAVIOUR.” International Journal of research Granthaalayah (2015): 12.
Icard, Michelle. weens and Fitting In: Brand Name Clothes May Be Worth It. 2019. 10 November 2019 < https://yourteenmag.com/teenager-school/teenager-middle-school/social-pressure-of-adolescence>.
Kaplan, Marcia. Teen shopping habits and trends . 2019. 10 November 2019 < https://www.practicalecommerce.com/teen-shopping-habits-and-trends>.
Mohtar, Shahimi, and Mazhar Abbas. “Teenager’s preferences and choice behavior towards branded or unbranded products.” Journal of Business and Management 16.7 (2014): 98-103.
The American Psychological Association. Driving teen egos–and buying–through ‘branding’. June 2004. 10 November 2019 < https://www.apa.org/monitor/jun04/driving>.