My kid spotted smiley faces on cereal logos everywhere.

It's a common brand style to seem friendly. Wonder if it really connects with families.

2 comments

2 Comments

Walk down any cereal aisle at the grocery store and count them. I bet you see at least ten boxes with some form of a smile or winky face baked into the logo. It's a cheap trick that works. My nephew zeros in on those boxes every time, and then the real work starts for his mom. The design makes a direct link in a kid's brain, which turns into non-stop begging at the cart. It connects with the family by putting parents in a bad spot, having to say no over and over. The companies know it's not about building a real bond, it's about making the kid do the selling for them.

leof267d ago

What happens when kids grow up and see the smiley face was just a sales trick? They might feel lied to and avoid that brand later. That could make the whole friendly act backfire on the companies.