Spam thrives in the face of our slowing economy…again.

(Note: I wrote this for a Pushback.org blog but it doesn't look like its getting past the editor's desk. Nevertheless, I thought it was funny, gross and interesting.)

An article by ADAge.com has pointed out the recent double digit growth in Spam sales over the past few quarters. In a time when almost every aspect of the economy is doing poorly, the Spam sector seems impervious to all the tumult.

Matthew Creamer reports:

It's a trend explained by the concept of "inferior goods," an economics term that less describes the makeup of a product than its place in consumer-demand theory. They're basically goods or services for which demand increases as income decreases and vice versa. They're staples that are somewhat dispensable in good times but more desirable in bad ones.

[…]

In the current economic climate, the media have given a fair amount of attention to this concept, as part of a tsunami of coverage of how the American consumer is cutting back to deal with rising food and gas prices and the looming threat of an economic apocalypse. Following parent company Hormel's second-quarter-earnings release, which announced a 14% increase in profit, the Associated Press attributed Spam's success to downtrodden simple folk and even quoted a few wretches who seem to have turned to the pork product as a last ditch before gobbling up their own hair clippings.

This isn’t the first time Spam has done well in an economic slowdown. The strange and questionably meaty substance was created in 1937 and was distributed throughout the south pacific to U.S. military personal during World War 2.

My question is: why is Spam even still available? Do you know anyone who actually eats Spam? Somebody must like it and now its sales are increasing? Strange…and…well… gross.
I’ll stick to discount shopping and cutting out coupons before the money crunch causes me to crack a can of SPAM for lunchtime in the office.

return of the 40?

Pabst Brewing Company has started a new marketing campaign that is attempting to garner appeal of their 40 oz. malt liquor brand Colt .45 towards young, urban youth. The campaign includes graphic novel style advertising and decorative brown paper bags.
Read the full story on Adage.

There is no denying that with the rise of hip-hop in America that many aspects of cultural iconography have been appropriated by middle-class white youth. The 40 oz. has and continues an element of that in some ways. (Some of us may remember the St. Ides commercials aired in the early 90’s featuring prominent hip-hop artists of the time)

However, the 40 oz. has also been considered a product that contributes to perpetuation of keeping urban poor communities down. (lots of alcohol for a cheap price has never led to good results)

Pabst’s attempt at making the 40oz. hip is a bizarre response to the continued appropriation of urban, hip-hop culture. It’s also sort of amusing…I wonder if it still costs a $1.99?

Thoughts?