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The US 7-11 convenience store chain adopts the Kwik-E-Mart name and products from the Simpson's TV show: Good business or a new low for American culture?

Results so far:

Good		51%	90 votes	Total: 176 votes
New low		49%	86 votes	Total: 176 votes

Good

2 of 3

I think the marketing strategy is pure genius when it comes to converting some 7-11 stores into Kwik-E Marts and having all 7-11 locations selling Simpsons branded merchandise. It is quite a creative idea and one that is entertaining to witness and take part in.

In a world now where interactive and viral marketing is crucial to success, the Simpson's movie marketing is a beacon of what all modern marketing to strive to be. Well let me take that back for an adjustment. Quality entertainment and quality products deserve great marketing because a great product will be respected even if it pushes itself onto you everywhere you go. The Simpsons is a worldwide phenomenon and a staple of American entertainment. Everyone has heard of the Simpsons and probably everyone has seen at least one episode in their lifetime. That said, The Simpsons as a product fits well in a viral marketing campaign and most people will see it as entertaining and not as a new low.

I belief some people will cry foul claiming that the Kwik-E Mart conversion of 7-11s is harmful to the image of the Indian and Pakistani communities because many 7-11s do happen to be owned and staffed by those of Middle Eastern descent. Of course so is the Kwik-E Mart in the Simpsons. To those people that will try to take the fun out of this Simpson's experience, I say that they need to develop a sense of humor and realize that the world can in fact take a joke.

Overall this marketing is amazing and looks to be like a fun and entertaining way to discover and become involved in The Simpson's world.

Learn more about this author, Maxwell Payne.
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New low

2 of 4

by Matt Remley

Kwik-E-Mart: New Low?

Honestly I find it very hard to believe, that not only did the US 7-11 convenience store chain adopt the Kwik-E-Mart name, but people actually think this is a good thing. I never thought about why they held the name "7-Eleven" in the first place.

According to Wikipedia it's because the original company was open from 7 A.M to 11 P.M. As I read the page farther down it explained that this advertising campaign was a huge success for 7-11, which I think is a pretty sad statement for the United States economy.

In these days the media is all over the place, there are advertisements in magazines, movies, on buses, and so on. Where is the line we draw on how advertisements are done? I think it's perfectly fine if companies want to hire a sports star to market their product, but I think it's a bit overboard when a company changes its store names just to advertise for The Simpson's.

What would you think if Wal-Mart suddenly changed it's name to I Am Legend-World? Interesting market strategy perhaps, but big companies like this represent the business world of America and shouldn't be used as big billboards.

Your probably reading this thinking that I'm taking it too seriously, on the other hand I can admit that it's a very cool idea and that people probably have tons of fun because of 7-11's little marketing plan.

If we don't draw a line on what kind of advertising is acceptable, we will one day end up having floating billboards in space that you can see from a telescope. The United States economy is already in pretty bad shape with the war and all, so it's not something we should joke about. We should be doing everything we can to fix the economy especially seeing as our money is now worthless in other parts of the world.

Companies should be raising the bar on good business, instead of lowering it as 7-11 has done. Will I continue to shop at 7-11 even after this? Yep, if it's the only gas station in the area, but if there's something else around I'm for sure going there.

Consumers that think 7-11's choice was a good idea should be ashamed of themselves for falling for this low level marketing plan.

Raise the bar people, not lower it.

Learn more about this author, Matt Remley.
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