I decided to do some online shopping today.
My merchandise selection was going to be from the online stores of the two Republican candidates for Governor of Wisconsin. I was curious to see how their online store’s merchandise selection, pricing policies and shopping ease reflected on their decision making and political positioning. The results were interesting – at least to me – and may be indicative of the values and business models of each candidate.
Scott Walker
Interestingly, Walker, seems to be going for the premium price with average quality product model. He’s betting that his acolytes will pay a premium to help subsidize his campaign. For example, I found that at the Walker site, it would cost me $30 for 10 bumper stickers or $3 a bumper sticker. Yikes – awfully dear to mar up the bumpers of my car with a backward looking message.
Meanwhile his shirt selection was limited to unisex T-Shirts that were all priced at $25 regardless of size – pretty expensive for a white, bland product and message.
Mark Neumann
Neumann seems to be following a low cost or subsidized cost with better products and selection model. His bumper stickers are given a descriptor “The price of these items are exactly what the campaign paid plus packaging”. Pretty neat symbolism – you’ll only pay for what you see and what you get.
At the same time, he doesn’t seem to be going after the t-shirt wearing crowd given that all of his shirts are Polos or button down shirts. Maybe he is basing his appeal on reaching the suburban preppy crowd. His polos had a very odd pricing structure of $.15 less for women then for men and the colors that were available were different between the two genders. I’m not talking pink vs. blue – I’m talking white vs. blue. Maybe someone in his campaign thinks of women as being lower on the totem pole and more virginal given the pricing and color selection.
I have a request into the Barrett campaign to find out about their campaign merchandise. I didn’t find any online store for campaign chachkas on his site.
At the convention, Mayor Barrett’s campaign t-shirts were white and $25.
Thanks Ed. He doesn’t seem to be pushing them on his campaign website. Sounds pricey and bland…. Maybe it was a premium price for the truly committed conventioneers with discounts for the “proles”.
Seriously?
Seriously!
This is more reason to vote for Mark for Governor! He will save us here in Wisconsin many dollars all around.
I do see however that Mark Neumann does have tshirts available in some of his packs. I’ve had it with politicians liberally spending my money like it’s no big deal. Time to vote for a true conservative in all ventures… Mark Neumann. I compared the candidates for gov on his website http://www.markforgov.com! Take a look for yourself!
I guess when the state and nation are falling apart and Democrats are completely in charge of both, of course it’s logical the most substantive thing you care to discuss is campaign t-shirt sizes. Unless this a parody blog now? Sure seems like it.
It’s just plain ridiculous to label items as “expensive” without even knowing the cost of what it takes to produce such items. Or would you rather they were cheaper “sweatshop” items? (For the record, the official merchandise of the Obama campaign offers equally “expensive” $3 bumper stickers and $25 t-shirts. Might want to do a little research next time.)
If you truly base part of who you vote on “merchandise selection” and “shopping ease,” that explains a lot. But then no one is making anyone buy these trivial items to show their support. You know what else is EXPENSIVE? How about an $800 million train that we ALL have no choice in paying for? Now THAT’S expensive! How about our high tax burden, programs, and debt? Those are really EXPENSIVE! I’ll gladly shell out $3 to support somone who wants to reduce those truly expensive items that matter.
Hi Forgot,
Thanks for the comment. This was meant to be a different look at their campaign websites and merchandising strategies. If you don’t like it don’t read it. Also note the category – Humor….
In terms of research I wasn’t looking at the prices of official merchandise on any sites other than these two candidates, hence the title “2 Stores, 2 Products 2 Candidates”.
It also wasn’t meant to be analysis of the trains, so not sure why you bring this one up.
Paul
My apologies, I guess I just missed the joke in this “humor” post. Oh well, to each his own. No one is analyzing trains, just pointing out that you seem pretty concerned over the price of a $3 sticker (which a supporter would gladly pay for) while not batting an eye at a much more expensive boondoggle taxpayer-funded project.
Also, anytime you seem to receive a critical response you say “If you don’t like it don’t read it.” How would one know they don’t like something until after they’ve read it?!
For the record I bought 3 Obama/Biden bumper stickers for $5…they were offered to me as $2 each or 3 for $5.
btw: I’ll pass on the $2 billion rebuild of the zoo interchange too…
If the Democrats were truly in charge (61+ votes in the Senate for instance), believe me, a fast train to Madison would be the least of your concerns! LOL!
You may be right about that! It’s frightening enough the way it is!!! What’s the excuse at the state level where no super-majority is needed?
And for the record it costs about $8 to make an American made union printed campaign t-shirt. Slightly more if you want a colored t-shirt, hence all of the white ones. And probably a lot less for a Republican one since they are not using union labor…LOL!