Entry 5

What interested me the most so far in Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser is in chapter2. Schlosser viewed Ray Kroc and Walt Disney’s weird bumpy relationship as well as each man’s rise to fame as well as the intricate profitable methods of advertising to children.

Both Kroc and Disney were born in Illinois a year apart, they both dropped out of high school, they severed together in World War 1, they moved to southern California after the war. Years later they both found ways to market their products to kids. Before Kroc involved himself with McDonald’s he had variety of careers, like in 1954 he was selling milk-shake mixers and the McDonald brothers needed eight. He convinced the brothers to sell him the right to franchise McDonald’s. They agreed and once that happen Kroc sent a letter to Disney asking if there would be any room for McDonald’s in Disney’s new park. It never worked out. Disney wanted to rise up the Fries so they would be able to get a profit off of it and Kroc disagreed.  Disney quickly developed clever and efficient marketing strategies like creating an atmosphere in which visitors felt as though they had escaped the real world, procuring corporate sponsorship, as well as coining the synergy strategy. Ray Kroc also worked on his own marketing strategies. He was more word of mouth, until Ronald McDonald was discovered by bozo the clown. Later on Ronald began to rival Mickey in name recognition.

In the 80’s marketing strategies aiming for children became a big thing. Marketing to children aimed at urging kids starting at the age of 2 to persuade their guardians to come in McDonald’s and now McDonald have gained new customers by that kid bringing in their grandparents or parents.. The marketing extends well beyond television ad campaigns and now includes play land, toys and cross promotion. McDonald’s has gone as far as to promote itself as a “Trusted Friend,” because their care about their customers well-being. I remember when I was younger and my mother always through my birthday party at McDonald’s for 3 years straight. To me it was heaven because they would give you toys when you bought a meal and then they would have all of McDonald’s characters come out and sing happy birthday to me. We would sing and dance and then we would go play in there play land inside of McDonald’s. Once I got older McDonald’s stopped that. Now certain McDonald’s has the play land. It was paradise to me, you got to eat, got a free toy and go and play in play land. Now any kid that sees McDonald’s they want it and really find ways to make it happen. McDonald’s to me is the the most convent fast food place especially when you’re on a highway and you see that big M standing tall.

Ray Kroc and Walt Disney did a good job on ways to market their band to kids. Especially the both have characters to brand their company that kids will always recognize where ever they are.