A Good Canadian Breakfast?

Tim Hortons Garb

Act(s) of consuming: Using

Product: Small Tim Hortons Hot Choclate, Tim Hortons Speciality Bagel Toasted with Butter and a Donut

Price: Proximately $5.00

Price of Simialar Products (different brands):

Roosters Bagel, Hot choclate No donut available Brands – Unknown Approximately $3.00 Cost of hot choclate does not change with size

Bought from grocery store Bagel (not speciality but free) Hot chocalate approximately for $4.00 per 30 cups Approximately $3.00 for 9 donuts store brand So lets say $1.00 for todays amount

Why I chose this brand?:

            It could be that my decision to chose to purchase my breakfast from Tim Hortons was based on my seeming addiction to the companies Tomato Asiago Bagel. As far as this exact product is only sold at Tim Hortons. Yet, this would not explain all the times that I went to Tim Hortons before this product was introduced, as well as the times I go to Tim Hortons and get products that are similar to those sold elsewhere.

            One of the main reasons that I often go to Tim Hortons is my familarity with the company and with its products. First of all, I come from a very small town in Northern Ontario called Kenora. In this town there are very few places that people can go to spend a lot of time without spending a lot of money. Tim Hortons as one of the only places one can do this therefore is almost always full with people having coffee. In fact many people, including myself, go to Tim Hortons everyday or numerous times in one day to spend time with others. In fact, I cannot recall one time that I went to Tim Hortons and did not see my mom’s friend Malcolm there. As a result, this familairity with the Tim Hortons “brand” has lead me to continue perchasing the companies products even in Ottawa where there are other cheap options, such as Roosters.

            Another second reason I am familiar with Tim Hortons is because my first job was at Tim Hortons. I worked at Tim Hortons when I was fourteen. Even working there, however, I could not say that I had an understanding of the production of the products. The products are made in factories somewhere else and then shipped to the Tim Hortons. That being said I do have familiarity with company policies and how the products are handled once they reach the store. For instance, I know that because of Tim Hortons policies any coffee I purchase from there will not have been brewed more than 20 minutes before hand. As a result, this intimate familiarity with the policies and part of the products productive likely leads to a trust in this brand. I expect that the products I will purchase here will be of good quality.

            A third reason I could say I am familiar and trusting of these products is because my roommate works at the Univerity Centre Tim Hortons where I bought breakfast this morning. Often I will purchase Tim Hortons when she is working there. Partly because I wish to visit her at her work but also because I trust her to give me good products.

            Moreover, Tim Hortons is often branded as “Canadian.” I recall in first year Introduction being to Communication Studies the calss was asked what makes someone Canadian. In this instance, as well as in other situations where this question is asked, people often answer Tim Hortons. This shows that Time Hortons is related to Canadianness. The company has also branded itself in this way, as can be seen in the following commercial.

            Tim Hortons links itself to other so called symbols of Candianness such as Hockey. What is  interesting is that people continue to associate Tim Hortons with being Canadian although the corporation is now owned by both American and Canadian stockholders (Tim Hortons). Tim Hortons is assumed to be something that all Candians know about and are familiar with. Due to this, one could say that Candians feel pressure to buy this brand because it affirms or reinforces their identity and Candians. In other words, in carrying about one’s Tim Hortons coffee they are saying to others I am Canadian. Perhaps a Candian may prefer McDonald’s coffee but because Candian identity is linked to the Tim Hortons brand will continue buying the latter’s products. I cannot deny that I have often considered Tim Hortons to be a sign of Canadianess, as something that seperates “us,” being Candians, from Americans. The decision to buy the Tim Hortons brand, therefore, could be because it is associated with the Candian identity, something which I and others may wish to express.

Limitations on choice?:

            In purchasing breakfast today there was certianly a choice to not purchase the Tim Hortons brand. In fact, I would have even saved money in buying breakfast from Roosters or from making it at home from grocery store bought products. This could be said to be a result of my having the priviledge to spend a bit more money on some food products over others. Perhaps someone who has less money than myself would not have had the same choice to purchase these more expensive items. That being said, in my discussion of why people in Kenora seem to go to Tim Hortons shows that Tim Hortons is often the cheaper option than spending money on other forms of “entertainment” or passing time. So perhaps those who do have extra money to spend are less limited for where they could go to spend time and visit with others. These people, for instance, may go to sit down resturants and spend more money than those who go to Tim Hortons. So although it does not always play into decsions to buy the brand cost may have some affect on people chosing this brand than over other more expensive takeout places or restuarants.

            There is also a limited amount of choices, though some choices, on the campus itself for buying breakfast. If one, such as myself, has to rush out for the bus has to buy breakfast later at school there are few options to choose from. As far as I know roosters, Tim Hortons and the more expensive and more time consuming Bakers resturant. Roosters is also limiting because it often has long lineups and only has one location. In contrast, Tim Hortons although it also often has long lineups has many locations around campus. Someone who is at the gym in the morning, then, may be more likely to get Tim Hortons, which is closer, than to go to Roosters to get their breakfast. Therefore, issues of time and space (placement of stores) can have a limiting affect on ones choice of brands of breakfast food.

Works Cited

Tim Hortons. About Us. Retrieved from: http://www.timhortons.com/us/en/about/faq.html.

Djgcmusic. (2010, February 6). Tim Hortons Commercial: “Hockey.” Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4ib4kf9Vy8. 

Popping Pills and Making Pancakes

Generic vs. Brand Name

            In recent posts I have distinguished between brand name products and those that are “no name” or “unbranded.” These terms, however, may not be entirely appropriate to use. Currently in our society the majority, maybe even all, products are branded, even if they are branded as “no name.” Moreover, fewer and fewer products appear to carry the “no name” brand and instead carry a generic store brand, think Loblaw’s “President’s Choice” products. In fact, “no name” itself is a brand that is only carried by the Loblaw’s Companies stores (Alexander, 2009). Within the same store one may even find products that are sold as brand name, “no name” brand and store brand. In this sense it is nearly impossible to “escape the brand.” That said there are differences between brand name products and generic brands that should be recognized. Investopedia defines a generic brand as

“A type of consumer product that lacks a widely recognized name or logo because it typically isn’t advertised. Generic brands are usually less expensive than brand-name products due to the lack of promotions, which can inflate the cost of a good or service. Generic brands are designed to be substitutes for more expensive brand-name goods.”

            Though Investopedia defines generic products as those that do not have a widely recognized name or logo, I would argue that with large corporations that have locations in many cities and in different countries even store brand products are becoming well known. For instance, I feel that many people in the West would recognize Walmart’s “Great Value” brand or Shoppers “Life brand” because many are familiar with these stores. It also appears that I was so familiar with “no name” products that I never realized they were one of the store brands of Loblaw’s Companies Ltd. However, it could be said that these store brands are less recognizable than the brand name products sold in multiple stores. A person who does not shop at Wal-Mart, for example, may not be aware of the “Great Value” brand but is likely familiar with say “Cheerios” cereal. It may also be true, as Investopedia says that generic brands are also cheaper because they spend less money on advertising their products or line of products. So while “unbranded” products may be nearly impossible to find generic brands offer an alternative to largely recognized brand names.

Note: Having now realized that “no name” is similar to other generic or store brands, and that finding products that are not branded is going to be nearly impossible, I will concentrate on the second week of this project on avoiding brand names and not generic brands. If the option does exist to buy or use things that are unbranded, for instance buying food from a farmer’s market, then I will do so. In other cases I will just try to stay away from the commonly known brand names that are sold in many different stores of a similar nature. For instance, the brand Tylenol that can be found in Walmart, Shoppers, Loblaws and most convenience stores in the West. Throughout the deration of this blog, however, I will make distinctions between any non-branded products, generic products and brand name products. 

Generic Tylenol and Aunt Jemima Pancakes 

Act(s) of consuming: Using

Product: Life Brand Extra Strength Acetaminophenophen

100 Tablets

Price: Currently Unavailable

Price of Simialar Products (different brands): Currently Unavaliable

Tylenol Extra Strength (currently unavialable)

(currently unavialable)

Why I chose this brand?:

            Cost was a big influence for me choosing the generic brand of Acetominophen over the more commonly known Tylenol brand. When I buy medications I often chose the generic brand over the brand name product because these usually cost less. If, however, the Tylenol brand was on sale for cheaper than the generic brand when I bought this product, which was about 8 months ago, I am certain I would have chosen that product. Why is this? I mean according to my knowledge and the government institution Health Canada generic drugs have the same medical ingredients as brand name ones and are of the same quality (Health Canada). The fact that I chose the generic brand of medications when and if they are cheaper shows that believe they will work as well. Yet, for some reason when the brand name is cheaper I will buy that. Is this due to the advertising of the product? Is it because I trust the product more? Is it because of my familiarity with the product both growing up and from media sources? I cannot answer this for myself but it is possible that it is all of these factors.

            Moreover, the fact that I chose Lifebrand over other generic brands of acetomenophen was more about convience than anything else. At the time I bought this medication I was sick with mono and had a terrible throat infection. I was told to take acetomenophen and ibuprophen by a doctor not being able to get around easily and not being able to afford to taxis to another location I stopped at the shoppers drug mart near my house. My choice to stop here instead of one of the convenience stores that are the same distance from my home does suggest that I trust or am more familiar and comfortable in this store. Also it may have been that convience stores often charge more for products than drug stores. Perhaps I also trusted the Lifebrand more because there were pharmacists available who, had I had any, could answer any questions I had about this medication. So although I may prefer Shoppers Drug Mart to other stores I would have chosen another store brand had different store being closer.

Limitations on choice?:

            As I mentioned my decision to buy a generic brand of medication over a brand name was primarily about cost. Since I have a lower income and I know the effectiveness and quality of the product is the same I chose to save money and buy the cheaper product. My choice, and I am sure the choice of many others on a low income, was therefore limited by how much money I could afford to spend. Those who have higher incomes may be more easily able to chose the brand name product because they can be less concerned about there spending.

            Cost is particularly important, at least for myself, when it comes to prescription medications. Under my parents medical plan if there is a generic version of the medication avialable the company will only cover the cost of the generic version. If the person wishes instead to have the brand name version they must pay for the medication themselves. Therefore, under this plan, people who cannot or wish not to pay for their medications must use the generic product. There choice is therefore limited by the regulations of the plan and their ability or willingness to pay for their medications.

Act(s) of consuming: Using

Product: Aunt Jemima Buttlermilk (premade) pancakes

12 pancakes

Price: Currently Not Available

Price of Similar Products (different brands):

Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix (currently unavilable)

No Name or Store Brand Pancake Mix (currently unavailable)

Another Frozen Pancake Brand Name (currently unavailable)

Why I chose this brand?:

            Generally I prefer to make pancakes from scratch. I have a secret family recipe that, in my opinion, no bought pancakes or pancake mixes can ever compare to. So why did I buy frozen pancakes? Well, first of all, part of the reason was just interest in the product. I was unaware that pancakes could be bought premade, frozen and microwavable. Secondly, I have very little time to cook, had been wanting pancakes and did not wish to make them. In other words my decision to buy the product was based on my own laziness.

            My decision to buy this brand, however, was mainly because of my trust in the brand. I trusted that the pancakes would be satisfying because I had eaten Aunt Jemima pancakes before. As I suggested earlier my family prefers to make pancakes from our own reciepe. My dad is the exception to this as he prefers to make them out of a box mix, specifically out of an Aunt Jamima mix. Aunt Jamima always reminds me of camping with my dad because he would always bring these mixes with him and make pancakes for my mom and I over the propane stove. So when buying these pancakes I thought I enjoyed Aunt Jemima as a child so why then should these frozen pancakes be dissatisfying?

            In the video “No Logo: Brands Globalization Resistance” Naomi Klein argues that images like Aunt Jemima are used by companies so that people are given a person who they feel they can trust (2012). Prior to industrialization and large factories the food people bought came directly from those producing it, such as a butcher or famer (Klein, 2012). In order to replace these figures and still instil trust in people, Klein argues that products were branded with characters such as Aunt Jemima or the Green Gaint (2012). These characters make people believe that they can trust the product because it suggests that it comes from this person (Klein, 2012). This argument resonated with me when I watched the video. It made me think that perhaps the reason that my dad started using Aunt Jemima and why I continue to consume it is also because of this branding technique.

            Lastly, the syrup that my roomate bought and which my household shares is also Aunt Jemima. Knowing this it could be that I bought this brand of pancakes because I knew I would be using Aunt jemima syrup on them. Perhaps I felt that getting the “whole experience” of this syrup meant that I had to have the brand of pancakes that “went with it.” Or again maybe it was my satisfaction in the syrup, having used it before, that lead to my trust and desire to consume the Aunt Jemima pancakes. Either way it is possible that having another product by the same brand affected my decision.

Limitations on choice?:

            As mentioned my main reason for buying frozen pancakes was a lack of time and lacking the desire to cook something. I think this speaks to the business of peoples lives today that we cannot or will not make the time to make pancakes from scratch, something that may only take twenty minutes. The possibility to make pancakes from a reciepe and not buy them premade or in mixes remains however. Yet, in such instances the ingredients that are used in the reciepe would likely also be branded products. That being said it is likely that one could at least find these ingredients in generic brands. Futhermore, I did have the option to buy pancake mixes that were of a generic brand. This again though, would have taken more time than the frozen pancakes.

            Moreover, the choice between frozen pancakes themselves was also limited. There are very few brands that make frozen pancakes. From what I recall there was only one other company that made this product within the Loblaws store I was shopping at. Therefore, the lack of selection between brands was also a limiting factor in which brand I chose to purchase.

Works Cited

Alexander, R. (2009, 6 April). No Name Who? Brand Channel Always Branding Always On. Retrieved from: http://www.brandchannel.com/features_profile.asp?pr_id=433/.

Generic Brand. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/generic-brand.asp#axzz2LmUVk1Jy.

Health Canada. The Safety and Effectiveness of Generic Drugs. Retrieved from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/med-gen-eng.php.

Klein, N. (2012) No Logo: Brands Globalization Resistance. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmmnknt4mCg.