HEBuddy Is One Freaky Bag of Groceries
Sunday afternoons are usually uneventful for the two of us. We always go to church where we are each involved in a ministry. David plays trombone in the Worship Team and I work the first service in the Resource Center. The Resource Center is pretty cool. We sell all kinds of books and sermon series that particular groups in the church are going through together. It’s like having a Family Bookstore right there in the church. So cool. And I get to wear a spiffy name tag. I mean, this nametag is pretty darn nice. Sometimes after church we will get a bite to eat if the budget allows (today was a Subway day) and pick up some groceries, then come home and take a nap. Oh, the napping that can take place on a Sunday afternoon! Dave is getting in some serious nappage now with the nap on the couch.
Today is pretty normal. In fact, I would almost say that if I didn’t have a camera with me during the grocery store part of the day that I would not remember today being any different than most Sundays other than the fact that it is the kickoff-Sunday of the 40 Days of Purpose study that our church is doing in small groups. No, other than that… I wouldn’t remember this Sunday… But I did have a camera with me at the grocery store. Take a look at this:
H.E.B. Grocery has a mascot! FOR. CRYING. OUT. LOUD.
seriously
Look again… it’s a person dressed up as a SACK OF GROCERIES. What the heck? What is happening to the world where a grocery store has a mascot walking around scaring children?
Just an example of a company vying for children’s attention. Just like the Band Festivals sponsored by VISA… This is an outrage! These companies are trying to get children to recognize them . . . grow up with them . . . make a mental association with that particular store as being fun . . . all for the sake of making money in the future. What I saw today is a bit too much. Shopping for groceries is not supposed to be like going to a theme park! I guess it is now, at least at the new 1431 HEB in Cedar Park/Round Rock/North Austin.
marklio
Piggly Wiggly’s mascot has been around as long as I can remember. Not that it makes it any less ridiculous to have a bag of groceries as a mascot, but what’s so wrong about it? For instance, how is this different from Maggie Moo’s having a giant cow as their mascot. Again, not that it makes it less ridiculous. I’m just curious.
Sep 19, 2004 @ 9:36 pm
Jennifer
Not just having a mascot, HEBuddy has been around for a long time, too, but having a literal costumed person walking around the store, and a grocery store at that… that’s what I find ridiculous.
When David and I went through the Financial Peace class offered at our church, Dave Ramsey pointed out just how many ways that companies and corporations are aiming at reaching younger and younger audiences in order to earn their business in the future… and therefore also make it [psychologically] easier for those people to apply for credit from those institutions. I saw the mascot walking around the store this afternoon as an attempt by HEB to appeal to the kids over, say, Albertsons or Randall’s, who do NOT have a living walking Albert or Randall or scary grocery bag stuffed to the gills with fabric foods walking around their stores handing out candy. For goodness sake, why weren’t they handing out credit card applications to the kids?! Now that I am aware of the evil power of credit and the sin of living in perpetual debt, I am seeing more and more instances of companies targeting little kids and it’s just sad. so sad.
Sep 19, 2004 @ 10:00 pm
jerry
Maggie Moo’s walking mascot is not nearly as disturbing as an oversized, animate bag of groceries. Maybe it’s the juxtaposition (I like that word) of facial features and appendages on a sack of groceries that is so wrong.
I wouldn’t read into it any more than that it’s an attempt by the store to get weak-minded parents to give in to the desires of their children, who are hypnotized into thinking that because a giant cartoon character is dancing around in front of them, everything in sight containing sugar is THEIRS, NOW. (whew) =)
Sep 19, 2004 @ 10:27 pm
Jennifer
My initial shock and reason for taking the picture in the first place was how … outrageous … the thing looks! A paper sack?! Don’t most people use plastic these days? With a face?! and a chaperone?! and gloves?! *sigh* Whatever reason HEB has for putting that costume on a person, whether it be advertising, appealing to the children, etc. … it’s working and we will probably be seeing mascots in more kinds of stores. What’s next, a big Jiffy walking aroud outside Jiffy Lubes? Don’t answer that. It was just a thought.
Sep 19, 2004 @ 10:37 pm