Durable vs. Disposable
Back in the day. . .
Consumers bought quality items that lasted for years. Companies that wanted to succeed had to offer parts, service and dependable products. Gillette came out with the first razor with disposable blades. The razor was rock solid made of stainless steel and would outlast its user.
Craftsman tools offered lifetime guarantees. Clothes were to be worn and then passed down to the next generation. Women spent hours ironing, bleaching, starching and washing. Cars were built to last years. Owners were mini-mechanics who took care of their beasts. Nothing was wasted either. Remember, one couldn’t leave the dinner table until the plate was clean.
And speaking of clean. Durable consumers loved clean homes, clean cars and clean offices. Housewives made sure everything was "spotless." Remember Ajax cleanser (white tornado), Mr. Clean, Pine-Sol and Tide commercials?
This generation of durable ended with the baby-boomers. Generations following such as the X and Y have grown up somehow as the disposable generation.
To them, nothing is built to last forever. They want disposable lighters, disposable plates, disposable music. Cars are meant to lease, not own. Clothes are meant for the season not next year. Shoes are disposable, who needs shoe polish, wax and water repellant spray?
Clean? Forget it. This generation isn’t messy, but it isn’t clean either. It’s OK for the stove to be dirty, dishes in the sink, spots on the carpet and prints on the wall. Forget about Ajax and Mr. Clean. This generation thrives on disposable wipes of all kinds, Swifter’s (can you imagine this generation using a wet mop or sponge mop or even knowing what they are?), and plug-in air fresheners.
This is a very interesting phenomenon for marketers. Lifetime warranties no longer mean anything because this generation doesn’t want to own anything for a lifetime. Who needs china and crystal anymore? Who even needs a dining room? When you buy fast food and take it home, all you need is a microwave and plastic forks.
Can you imagine previous generations drinking bottled water or guzzling energy drinks? I have some ideas to appeal to the disposable society. Too bad disposable cameras, video recorders and storage containers have already been taken.
Happy Friday!
P.S. I’m on my way to Italy for Kemon Days and Cosmoprof to get even more ideas. I’ll share with you on my return.
March 27th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Yes right now society has become “diposable” but I feel in the future this will pass and society will go back to wanting quality products. We use our dinning room every night and eat together as a family, I use my good crystal and good china for all sorts of occasions, birthdays, dinner with friends, what is the point of having something if you never use it. I even use an old fashioned mop for those tough jobs! With the green movement I think in the future you will see more investment in products that last or things that can be recycled or reused. Maybe you can come back with a great green product for the salon industry! just a thought….
PS: I do swear by baby wipes that has to be one of the best inventions ever!
March 27th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Remember that old comercial of the Native American walking over a hill and seeing a garbage dump on his land. As the camera pans back to him, he has a tear rolling down his cheek.
March 27th, 2009 at 11:11 am
When my granddaughter was born I suggested the use of cloth diapers to save money. I have never seen such a horrified look as I saw on my daughter-in-law’s face. Disposables only. Disposable bum wipes (heaven forbid she use a washcloth), even the bottle inserts are disposable. I even offered a diaper service-no go.
Me? Old cars, a rag to wash the floors, and shoes that I’ve had since high school-yes I still wear them.
March 27th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Kate thanks for brining up diapers. I dont do it all the time but I do cloth diaper when I am at home on the weekends. Cloth diapers have come a long way since back in the day, now they look just like the disposable and they wash up like a charm.
For anyone who is intrested check out: bum genius cloth diapers they work very well.
March 27th, 2009 at 11:19 am
I am a member of generation Y and I will proudly say that I am far less disposable than my sister, a generation Xer, and my Mom, a Baby Boomer. My best friend is using cloth diapers for her baby, our mom’s used disposable. I actually was my dishes and use a cloth to wash my floors, scrubbing by hand doesn’t get it nearly as clean as a swiffer!
March 27th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Looks like anonymous was watching VH1 this weekend – I love the 70’s.
I saw this featured on the show. Boy, that show brings back the memories, but the I love the 80’s is way better for me since I was born in 1973.
Remember getting a new metal or plastic lunch box each year for school with a thermos! No disposable bring boxes back then!
March 27th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Anonymous, the person in that commercial was actually an Italian man.
March 27th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Brave new world…
March 27th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
We are not a wasteful family by any means.. I have 3 stepkids and one of my own, we can’t really afford to be wasteful. I also think it is how I was raised growing up.. I was the youngest of 3.. most of my clothes were hand me downs from my older sisters, we also had the rule at dinner that your plate has to be empty to get down and if its not empty.. when you want a snack later.. that is what you will be eating, and now I do this with my kids too.
Anyone have a Shamwow?? That has got to be one of the best inventions ever (along with baby wipes)
March 27th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Growing up my mother would make most of our clothes. She made them on an old Singer sewing machine, you know the one you had to crank with your feet to operate it wasn’t electric. Then she would wash the clothes in a ringer/washer. You had to crank the ringer as you feed the clothes through it to get the excess water out ( no such thing as rinse or spin cycle then ). And yes, she made her own lye soap. About the only thing that was disposible in our house was my Dad. But Mom still held on to him for 34 years before throwing him out. LOL
March 27th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Automobile engines were far more basic compared to the high tech engines of today. This enabled the average person to maintain their own vehicle.
People choose automobile leasing because financing them is outrageous.
March 27th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Geez Bob, what are you 90? LOL
March 27th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Almost…I’m only 10 months behind LG….
March 30th, 2009 at 11:00 am
I have one of those Singer Sewing machines. I bought it at a garage sale for $45 my mom paid over $250 for her knock off brand…I even saw the same one I have in a museum in Green Bay..they are called Treadle sewing machines..they are cool..I don’t use mine. I just wanted an antique and to show off to my mom that I got a better deal…lol
March 30th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
hey now wait a minute….. I still use my mop/sponge mop to clean with. my shoes and clothes are not just for the season they last me as long as they hold up. my cars….. all paid for and as long as they run… im keeping them! ( knock on wood)
March 31st, 2009 at 8:33 am
The person in the comercial I saw was native american indian. Feathers and make up.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:45 am
Anonymous – I think Lory was saying that it was an Italian man dressed as an American Indian.
I would LOVE it if things still lasted for a long time. The biggest thing for me is my cell phone. It seems like they make them to last only a year or two so that you pretty much HAVE to renew your contract. Ugh!!!
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