It's been a while people! The Biztro's soul, yours truly, has been busy being a Mom, a Consultant, a Coach....and a Traveler!!! Yes, so many hats, one average sized head. Overwhelming at times, busy most of the times...inspiring ALL the time. So, that's the reason the final rendition from the Bohemian Biztro for 2010 is dedicated to functional and successful Brands discovered as such, in our last vacation. Brands which were my "go-to" mannas, thanks to the whimsy of moody toddlers and even more moody weather!! :)
First up, Delta Airlines came across as a indifferent service provider for novice parents traveling with Twin toddler coast to coast. Ground staff, Security checks, Inquiries - Ho hum service, reluctant responses and no surprise, a bag which decided to extend its vacation. Was it my travel weary and depleting tolerance level or was it an Airline which did not care much for customer delight..I am going to let you decide.
When California welcomed us with open arms and warm glorious sunshine, my toddlers' mood was dark, drab and dreary. They refused to eat, sleep or warm up to anyone else for the first couple of days other than the forever docking stations - Mom and Dad!! Varieties of cuisines and methods were tried to ensure that the Twins had enough sustenance...however only some brands were the choice picks - Parle G, Horlicks and Yoplait!!
Brands on the Go!!!!
And then there was Horlicks - Thank you for taking care of most of the nutritional requirements of my children AND being so tasty!! "Junior Horlicks" is specially designed for fussy preschoolers who are being mobbed by their even more fussy moms to get the quota of nutrition per day. The brand is purported to have the A-Z of nutrition. Glaxo SmithKline positions it that way, Moms become suckers for that positioning. If Horlicks is doing what it is doing, I am, I guess, doing my job as a Mom!!
Of course, Yoplait's strawberry Yogurt was another popular favorite. Despite arguments about iffy ingredients like the Locust Bean Gum and God knows from where extract of Gelatin, my toddlers ate Yoplait. In fact they relished it. You see, the California Costco did not have the Stonyfield Organic Yogurt these girls normally like, so we switched to Yoplait..! Consumer switching not motivated by anything more than the physiological need for a mom to feed her child!
My Toddlers learned to walk and yes..even run in California. Of course that came with a few "bumps" and "scratches"! Neosporin, Dettol, Bandaid...all turned out to be must have brands in the diaper bag and/or jean backpockets for "on-the-go" parenting! Kleenex as well, might I add, for the evident tears and heartfelt guilt of a frazzled Mom..!
See, today's moms use whatever help they can get - from brands, from blogs, from popular media; to raise their children, to support their opinions, and even to fortify their parenting styles. For that reason alone, I am a big advocate of responsible branding, brand positioning and all the more, responsible parenting. We have a choice, as parents to expose our children to the right mix of commercial products, without saturating them with excesses of consumerism..A choice to use our discretion and judgment to keep our children grounded enough by their home grown roots, yet supported enough, by brand name power..
I leave you with this question however, for which I don't know the answer myself..How much is too much??
Lets Talk!!!
By the way!! A Happy New Year to all my Biztro Loyalists! I gotta run to the party downstairs!!!
