Teen branding

Nowadays, if you are a teenager and you tell others that you have never use or consume branded products such as Adidas, Sony, and Coca-cola, Intel before, you will be labeled as outdated and people may even call you a “freak”.

In some studies, it has shown that most of the teenager claimed that having cool brands makes them feel “cool” and they are mostly obsessed with brand name. Of course, not all the teenager will have the same opinion, but one thing they can’t denied, which is where branded thing has become part and parcel of their lives. Even if you do not wish or intend to use it, you will sure to hear those names around your ears and there’s no possibility if you do not know anything about those brand. If so, you are again a totally “outdated-freak mania”.

We are hereby able to get some opinion of friends around on the reason why they purchase or consume branded items. Most of reasons are due to their belief that branded items will tend to have a better and preferable quality than other “pirated- original” items sold in “pasar malam” or night market. By carrying those branded stuffs along, it will shows that they have a higher status than others and make them feel proud of themselves. Actually, it’s all the psychological effect that has been taken place. Or maybe I should say, the trend or culture which makes them feel better-off than others when using branded products. Furthermore, the spokesperson of certain brands will also have a big influence on them. For example,

Brad Pitt, as sexiest man alive of the advertisement of Edwin jeans advertisement, this ad will attract man to buy Edwin jeans so that they can be sexy like Brad Pitt.

Apple's hugely successful iPod digital music player emerged as the brand that is "absolutely essential to teens."

Other than that, we know those teenagers are willing to spend their money on few brands that they really like. There is also the current trend for teenagers, who buy these branded stuff and more and more becoming an interest to them, and this is how they can satisfy themselves. Beside that, by carrying branded stuff they can show off in front of their friends that they are rich and affordable. Maybe this is a scary statement for the parent as they will need to waste more money, but in fact, if you aren’t following the trend then you will be left out from “teenager circle”. And this is the reason why friends are the biggest influence in this stage.


Lastly, almost every higher education students or tertiary-educated students in Malaysia are using at least one branded thing; maybe it has become a necessity for them.

Maybe explanations and pictures will not convince you. But this is one of our evidences acquired by a student that branding is important:

“I will not deny that I myself am a people who are very interest in things such as branding. Since I was in secondary school, I was addicted to a well-known brand, which is “Nike”. This is due to the reason that this popular figure was a popular brand and during that period of time. I was an athlete. Therefore, I bought many products on the name of “Nike”. As I know, “Nike” has their very own style of differentiation in their products.

Therefore, that was the first time I bought branded item which was the “Nike” sport shoes. It was so different compared with other brand. Once I wore it, I feel so agitated and this made me happy during that time. Why? The reason is because at that specific time, there were not much people who could afford to buy it. Hence, I can show off my ability and willingness to buy the shoes to them. In addition, my pride had gone up a rank. However, this was my thinking when I was young. Nowadays, I still agree that branded items are important to me because it reflects the reality. Branded things can represent everything. Besides, most people view that it will increase not only our status, but it also shows that those people have good eyesight or so-called “taste” to choose branded products. This is again due to the quality of the branded items even tough we cannot deny that it is more expensive than other.

In my opinion, branded products are better than others. It is worth to have branded product around. Now, I have also supported other branded products, which are Levi’s, Casio, and Body Shop and so on. Another reason is that the branded product is worthy to us and the products are valuable and durable after using it for years. Therefore, I am hereby strongly agreed with branded product where branding is very important to everyone, if not everyone, to me.”

Nostalgia

It has been more than 10th year we never meet since my cousin and her families already migrate to Canada. The last time I saw her, she was 5 years old and I was just 4 years old. As time had passed, every one of us has changed a lot compared with last time when we were in childhood.

In these 10th years that we never meet, we can only keep in touch with the phone. As we all realize that our look compared with last time when childhood, we had change a lot. Last time a small little girl as I still remember has grown up became a beautiful girl and has a very successful career. My relationship and cousin are much closed, wherever we go surely we will be together and we play together too. Moreover, we also like to bully a litter boy together until he cry and ran back home. It has been a long time I didn’t see my cousin, but our relationship is still much closed until today. I am very happy when I heard the news that my cousin is coming to Malaysia visit us and very excited to meet her. Even though, it is quite sad that I only can spend my one whole day with her but I am still happy to see her and enjoy together.

On February, 2008 I heard a news from my father said that my cousin and my aunty is coming to Malaysia to visit us. When the day has come and is the first time my cousin came to Kuantan she already had a great experience where we were waiting in the wrong direction to meet up. My father was waiting them near by the Giant hypermarket bus stop and my aunty friend’s who fetch them from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan were waiting near by one of the hotel, Vistana. This is the most funnies experience for us because we also did not realize that there is two highway can be use to come to Kuantan.

The next days, my sister and I took my cousin visit around Kuantan while my aunty will be going out with her sister. We bring our cousin go to Hai Ping Kopitiam to have breakfast and the place famous with their laksa, coffee, sandwich, and so forth. My cousin asks whether the food that I order is spicy. As she knows that most of the Malaysian food is spices and in their country they don’t take spices food. However, my cousin still trying the food and she still can take it the “hot” of the food. After we had our breakfast, we went to Mega mall for shopping and walk around the mall.

In the afternoon, during lunch time we went to our cousin brother restaurant to have lunch there and while we were eating we started to talk about our places in Kuantan and my cousin introduced their nice place that we should visit in Canada. After lunch, we brought my cousin to go to Teluk Cempedak to see how it is Kuantan beach compare with Canada beach. As we already reach there, we walk around the beach, play with the water, took some picture and collect some nice seashell as souvenir.

At night, after we already had our dinner in one of the Japanese restaurant, we went to Funfair in Tanjung Lumpur to play some games. As the night still young, we went to a pub to have some drink, listen to song, dance and so forth. There are lot of fun and joy with my cousin, even though it just one day that I can spend my time with her because the next day I need to go back Malacca.

Topic 1 – Metrosexual Men

Classical image of youthful male beauty in Western art
(taken from wikipedia)

Men. According to wikipedia it is male human. According to the old society it is someone that born to be tough, should be leaders in a family, or even a country. According to a woman in modern society, it is someone that should pay all of our credit card bills. Now let us have a look on types of male human in the society now. We may get someone like these...

A cute one.

A muscular one.

A cool one.

(taken from www.google.com)

However if one day like now we found that the facial products on a guy’s desk may be more than us, only we come to learn a new term which can be applied on men…

METROSEXUAL

From online definition we have been given something like “the single young man with a high disposable income, living or working in the city. So this person comes into our mind.


Ops… sorry for the mistake. Should be this


Our lovely Mr. Robert
(P/s: Thanks for giving us high marks huh Sir.)

For another definition of “metro sexual”, it refers to a man that concern very much for their physical appearance. A metro sexual is defined as a dandyish narcissist in love with not only himself, but also his urban lifestyle; a straight man who is in touch with his feminine side. Undeniable, this has becoming a trend for the modern society. Even the target markets for skincare product are not limited only to girls. So in other way these men are helping to boost up the sales of this sector, and finally contribute to the nation economy. See? Men never forget about their responsible to society.

As incredible witches have meetings on this topic, we have been cracking our head to think why the man practicing this trend. We come out with this few ideas:

(a) They make themselves looked tidy in order to gain more confidence
(b) To enjoy the attention of audience when they walk on street, having girls looking at them, admire them.
(c) There were a lot of shops, clubs, gyms and hairdressers that available for them to spend their money.
(d) They are addicted to games, whereby game’s character too starts to evolve into metro sexual style.

(e) They think being as tidy as a girl is attractive, so they start to imitate girls. (Muahahahaha….)
(f) That’s a possibility that the technology play a big role in building up this style.

We can obviously found that camwhoring is no longer a specific hobby of female. Normally when any trend starts, the youth will be the first to practice it. Virtual space like Friendster, Facebook, My Space which is for people to make friends online, create opportunity for them to show themselves.

We found someone like this,

or this,

this,

Or even this


(taken from www.friendster.com)

In case that we have to make sure that the information given by us under this topic is accurate, we decide to go into research for this. The research instrument that we use will be INTERVIEW.

Respondent: Derick
Age: 21 years old
Reason for selecting this respondent: He is definitely a genuine metro sexual man

D: Derick
IW: Incredible Witch

IW: First of all, thanks a lot of giving us this great opportunity to have an interview with you for the topic of “metro sexual”.

D: Not at all

IW: So, can we know your occupation?

D: Oh, I’m a hairstylist, working in Crystal Point, Penang

IW: What do you think about metro sexual?

D: Metro sexual refers to the single young man with a high disposable income, living or working in the city (this is copied exactly from wikipedia)

IW:…..

(Well, this is just some demo of the “lame” interview that imagined by us. In case of asking something that could make our readers fall asleep, we decide to go with a different way.)

IW: Yo, Derick, ready for interview?

D: Yoyo, come on man, ask me anything you want to know.

IW: Frankly, name us all the skin products on your desk

D: Ok. First thing, make sure you have a suitable CLEANSER. Use probably “for dry skin” or “for oily skin”. After we clean our face, we need TONER. Of course, make sure that never let any pimples pop up on your face, get PIMPLE CREAM. I have whole setoff these things, and too don’t forget about the MASK. Use regularly so that the skin looks perfect.

IW: Wow, you are really concern of your skin.

D: Sure. If I found any pimples popping up on my face, I’ll find many treatments to get rid of it. I even pay regular visit to beauty salon to maintain the beauty of my skin.

IW: (As he mentioned this we get a little shock) Huh? But you are a guy wor….

D: So what? Remember, keep yourself tidy is as paying respect to others, and leave people with good impression. Our hair also plays important roles of images. I’m glad to be a hairstylist so I learn a lot of way to manage my hair.

IW: Oh we see... so how do you manage your hair?

D: Hmm…like me I will have the good hair shampoo and conditioner as basic. Then we need wax, tonic, styling mousse etc etc..,If I don’t have the time to set my hair, I will make sure I have a collection of hats standby for me to cover my hair.

IW: Fuyoohh... Seems that Derick is so expert at taking care of look. So how long normally takes you to prepare yourself before go out?

D: Around one hour. This duration I’ll confirm all my wearing like watch, shoes, and clothes are matching with each other before going out. I need to make myself looks perfect and great even though I’m late for appointment. When dressing up, make sure don’t wear something that doesn’t suit you. Spray some perfume will be a bonus.

IW: Hmm…by the way you have a good figure for your body. Do you go gym often?

D: Ya fitness of body and health is important as well. If we didn’t keep fit for our body shape, it is definitely hard to find suitable clothes. I will do different form of exercise at home like pumping and sit up to keep my tummy flat and well toned.

IW: Seems like not only girls need good body shape. What else did u do to keep yourself keep looks charming?

D: What else huh…You know, when fashion is changing fast, make sure update yourself with reading fashion magazines for the fashion knowledge I often browse through internet to learn make-up skill and get to know make-up tips and tools, since I’m hairstylist.

IW: Ha-ha, so if compare to your girlfriend who is keener on dressing up? (Her girlfriend is not in our corporation)

D: Hmm…both of us do so but I will advise her on the way she dresses.

IW: Oh ok…. According to your girlfriend, you like to spend a lot of time facing mirror. Can you give us a clearer picture how addicted are you to mirror?

D: Mirror is the greatest invention ok? I must tidy up myself in front of the mirror before I go out. Not only that, I’m sensitive to any glass that can reflect my image. I like to stop by a second to neat up myself and make sure I look good.


IW: U means…any glasses that show reflection?

D: Ya, such as welding glass or car side mirror, and sometimes even the water on floor after raining.

IW: (sweating…) you are really a good citizen of Metro Sexual World…. Thanks for bringing us for a visit in you world.

D: Not at all not at all.

(This conversation has been restructured but the points remain, since we are interviewing the person through msn messenger.)

Ok back to topic.

You have any male friends around that you found suitable to put this term on them?

May be next time when we try to think of giving some gifts to a male friend for his birthday, we can think of this,

Or this

In short, what will the future be????Like this???


Men start to MAKE UP like ladies when go for dinner?

Ladies’ turn to wait for a man when go for dating. This is because they NEED to dress up.

No longer the female toilet will be flooded with bunch of ladies that checking out with mirrors, make up inside for half an hour, but GUYS WILL DO THAT.

Sweat…

Group Members profile

Incredible Witch was founded in 2004 by a group of perfectionists who are nothing, but just an ordinary man on the street that are capable of doing everything for something. In just a flick of time, they’re able to recruit five most talented members for their organization around the globe such as Korea, American, Hong Kong, Japan and Canada in 2004 too. Their identities are unknown till today. They are recruited in the organization due to their differences in their nationality and skills. Each of them is the expert of certain fields and these make them a valuable asset for the organization.

These 5 experts are only at the age ranging from seventeen to nineteen when they are recruited in the organization. They abilities in certain fields are no doubt the best that one mankind can ever find in the current civilization. In just a short period of time; 5 years, they are wanted for over 1367 crimes around the world that we live in. They hack, they steal, they murder but they are mystery. Nobody is able to capture them for further investigation.

But, lady’s luck was not on their side as five of them are being arrested in the year of 2007 of modern days. Only then their identities are being disbursed to the public. They are Song Jyih En of Korea; Kate Davidson of America; Zoë Chen of Hong Kong; Yuri Hamasaki of Japan; and Carol Dion of Canada. They are being transferred to “Adx Supermax” of Florence, Colorado, which has been known for the past decades the “World’s Most Secure Prison”. But it just a matter of time, and finally the five of them are able to escape from the so called “most-secured” prison in 2 days time. Not one, but five of them. Authorities in charged around the world are looking for these 5 first-degree criminals high on their wanted list.

Currently from the tip-off of “The International Criminal Police Organization – Interpol”, they are being suspected of hiding their identities in one of the World Class University in Malacca, which is the Multimedia University School with different identities, of course.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

FIRST DEGREE MURDERER
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MONEY LAUNDERING
Song Jyih En

Aliases: Kang Wan Ting

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth: 28.07.87

Hair: Brown

Place of Birth: Korea

Eyes: Brown
Height: 158cm

Complexion: Light

Weight: 48 too 50 kg

Sex: Female
Build: Medium

Blood: A positive

Occupation: Unknown

Nationality: Korean
Scars and Marks: None known

Remarks:
This fugitive is under Incredible Witches Corporation. Currently traced in Malaysia, Multimedia University Malacca Campus, taking Marketing Management as varnish, ID is 1051106777.

Intellectual Perfection:
Multilingual. Can speak more than 50 languages fluently. Have wide networking of people to help in completing mission.

Skill Perfection:
Perfect in combating. Can drive any vehicle include cars, airplane, airship.

History:
2000 Seoul Champion in Car Racing 2000
2002 Hold Pilot license in University of Australia
2004 Join IW Corporation.

FIRST DEGREE MURDERER
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MONEY LAUNDERING
Kate Davidson

Aliases: Lim Pui Yee

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth: 23.11.87
Hair: Black
Place of Birth: America
Eyes: Brown
Height: 163cm
Complexion: Light
Weight: 46 too 48 kg
Sex: Female
Build: Thin
Blood: B positive
Occupation: Unknown
Nationality: American
Scars and Marks: None known

Remarks:
This fugitive is under Incredible Witches Corporation. Currently traced in Malaysia, Multimedia University Malacca Campus, taking Marketing Management as varnish, ID is 1051107554.

Intellectual Perfection:
Tactician, expert in investigating, plan strategy for every mission under IW Corporation.

Skill Perfection:
Perfect in combating. Can hack and open any lock or security system.

History:
1999 Champion of America Chess Tournament 1999
2000 Champion of Intelligent Test 2000 in United States
2004 Join IW Corporation

FIRST DEGREE MURDERER
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MONEY LAUNDERING
Zoë Chen

Aliases: Yap Sue Yee

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth: 21.10.86
Hair: Black
Place of Birth: Hong Kong
Eyes: Black
Height: 166m
Complexion: Light
Weight: Approximately 50 kg
Sex: Female
Build: Medium
Blood: AB positive
Occupation: Unknown
Nationality: China
Scars and Marks: A tattoo of butterfly at left arm

Remarks:
This fugitive is under Incredible Witches Corporation. Currently traced in Malaysia, Multimedia University Malacca Campus, taking Marketing Management as varnish, ID is 1061109216

Intellectual Perfection:
Able to forge visa for any country

Skill Perfection:
Perfect in combating. Perfect shooting skill in using any types of gun includes magnum sniper rifle, nighthawk.50c, and Krieg 550 commando.

History:
2000 Champion of Marksmanship Tournament in China
2004 Join IW Corporation.

FIRST DEGREE MURDERER
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MONEY LAUNDERING

Yuri Hamasaki

Aliases: Chan Ai Wee

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth: 16.11.86
Hair: Red
Place of Birth: Japan
Eyes: Black
Height: 168cm
Complexion: Light
Weight: 52-54 kg
Sex: Female
Build: Medium
Blood: A positive
Occupation: Unknown
Nationality: Japanese
Scars and Marks: A scar at left arm

Remarks:
This fugitive is under Incredible Witches Corporation. Currently traced in Malaysia, Multimedia University Malacca Campus, taking Marketing Management as varnish, ID is 1051100086

Intellectual Perfection:
Expert in poisoning and medical knowledge, have own unique remedy for antidote.

Skill Perfection:
Perfect in combating. Perfect skill in using knife, stiletto, fencing in combating.

History:
2000 Hire as killer for secret organization
2003 Youngest Master holder of Medical Course from University of Tokyo
2004 Join IW Corporation.

FIRST DEGREE MURDERER
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MONEY LAUNDERING
Carol Dion

Aliases: Lee Chun Bee

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth: 09.09.85
Hair: Green
Place of Birth: Canada
Eyes: Black
Height: 164cm
Complexion: Light
Weight: 50-52 kg
Sex: Female
Build: Medium
Blood: O
Occupation: Unknown
Nationality: Canadian
Scars and Marks: A tattoo of peacock on right shoulder

Remarks:
This fugitive is under Incredible Witches Corporation. Currently traced in Malaysia, Multimedia University Malacca Campus, taking Marketing Management as varnish, ID is 1061105997

Intellectual Perfection:
IT Hackers. Able to hack into high technology security data. Can destroy CCTV system in seconds.

Skill Perfection:
Perfect in combating. Master of judo, taekwando, wu-shu, karate.

History:
2000 Championship in combating battle 2000 of Canada
2004 Join IW Corporation.