Once again, #TGIM – Thank God It’s Monday and, as such, #HappyMonday to everyone! I personally look forward to all Mondays because they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with all of you!
As I wrote near the end of last week’s post, there are many marketing concepts that use certain colors to elicit certain feelings or psychological effects from potential consumers. In fact, there’s been a lot of studies done on the many different effects that colors have on us, in general.
Colorology is the scientific study of colors, while Color Psychology is the study of how colors specifically affect our perceptions and behaviors. Carl Jung is considered one of the pioneers in color psychology, for his investigations into the properties of colors and their related effects on our lives – which, by the way, can also be largely impacted by different cultures and personal preferences, too. All in all, it’s reflective of interpretation.
Decades ago, when my children were small, I sold decorative products (at in-home gatherings) from a Texas-based company called Home Interiors & Gifts. I loved my job! I loved to meet new people in small, social settings and teach them decorating techniques with Home Interiors’ beautiful and affordable products.
Unfortunately, I was a terrible salesperson (and still am). I also couldn’t recruit others to join my area’s sales team, nor could I make any solid profits… But I still loved my job! I learned a lot of social skills and how to speak in public, as well as crafty decorating skills from the HI&G sales group, to which I was recruited. I really enjoyed learning about Feng Shui techniques and color psychology.
On the color wheel, cool colors are the greens, blues, and purples; reminding us of grass, water, and sky. Cool colors tend to create calm, soothing effects. Warm colors are red, orange, and yellow, which are energizing and brilliant, even mesmerizing, reminding us of campfires or sunshine.
Brown is a hybrid that’s created from both warm and cool colors. Brown can be created by combining two opposite colors on the “color wheel”, like red and green or blue and orange. Neutral colors, such as white, grey, and black are neither warm nor cool.
Similar to how various brands choose colors that represent their values – KFC and Coke are associated with red, Culver’s and Pepsi are associated with blue, Subway and Starbuck’s are associated with green, etc. – Mom also used color psychology when choosing the colors for the covers of each of her self-published books.
MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
My Cup Runneth Over and I Can’t Find My Mop (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Dec. 1989, p. 53)
RISKY BUSINESS
THERE ARE MANY RISKS involved with going into business for yourself, no matter what product or service you intend to offer. If I had thought more about the risks, than I did about the possibilities, I never would have moved an inch toward doing any of the things about which I now write.
My husband is not a risk-taker. I am. We complement each other well. He still becomes uneasy and anxious about every new idea I have for another book or another project, on the basis that ‘we can’t afford it.’
I have learned, over the years, to keep many of my projects to myself until they are completed; which, in the long run, saves Paul from worrying unnecessarily about something that will very likely turn out well, and keeps me from worrying that Paul is worrying.
When I have been asked about goals or destination, it is been my feeling that every corner I turn has a new goal, a new destination awaiting us. I have never thought of any one point as being the top. Life has so many wonderful opportunities for each of us to take advantage of, that it does not seem reasonable that I should give myself the limitations that would determine just how far I should be able to go.
Because this was never a hobby, never WORK, never a job, I have had no problem with the worry or concern that accompanies a position from which one expects to retire. I would not want to give up what I have been doing [writing] since I was a child. It would be unfair to have to give up doing something that has also brought so much pleasure and good information to so many people.
It was, however, only when I realized WHAT I should be writing about and what I should be sharing with the readers – what I knew best – that things really began to happen. Of course, my husband wisely reminds me, when someone asks about writing their own cookbook, that WRITING it is the easiest part. Knowing how to SELL it is the hard part!
AGAIN, MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 136). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition)].
TAKE THE JUNK OUT OF JUNK FOODS
EATING OUT AT HOME: Going to a restaurant is like going to a movie, a way of escaping your day-to-day environment in the office or at home or at most functional places. Restaurants should be places that make you feel separated from your daily environment.
Many restaurants are successful because their design is theatrical, suggesting another time, or a more environmental experience that makes you feel far away from your problems. McDonald’s has been successfully employing the theme of total decorating concept into their units for many years with the family as the center of their attention; whatever appeals to family groups, children, parents, grandparents.
Their concept is warm, functional, attractive and wholesome. They have set the trend in the fast food industry for this type of the core, always emphasizing their immaculacy concept.
COMMON COLOR ASSOCIATIONS
Purple is associated with royalty, elegance, authority, and seniority. [NOTE: Gold is similar, also representing pedigree, power, confidence, and wealth.]
Blue is associated with loyalty, trust, calmness, peace, and stability. Blue is also associated with first-place ribbons and, thus, being a winner. Indigo is a dark shade of blue that adds a dramatic level to blue’s general effects.
Green is associated with success, goodwill, good taste, and money. Green is also usually associated with quality and freshness, evoking feelings of a healthy, natural environment.
Yellow is associated with sunshine and energy. It’s bright and happy, stirring up feelings of confidence and artistic creativity/ingenuity.
Orange, like its two ingredients, red and yellow, is associated with power and energy; creating a sociable, fun, cutting-edge feeling.
Red is associated with power and confidence; grabbing your attention and creating feelings of excitement, energy, and strength. Red also represents the heart, passion, and love. Pink is a light tint of red that simplifies red’s effects, adding a bit of youth and innocence.
Brown is associated with earthy, simple, trustworthy, and dependable characteristics.
Black is associated with both, modern and traditional characteristics; representing drama, sophistication, and formalness. However, depending on how it is used, it can also represent evil and death; evoking feelings of fear, sadness, and grief.
Grey is associated with being moody and stormy, but also rugged, conservative, and solid (like a rock).
White is associated with being clean and simple; eliciting feelings of innocence, honesty, and newness.
LAST THOUGHTS…
In marketing, colors are a highly influential part of the selling and buying process. How to Use the Psychology of Colors When Marketing, by DashBurst (June 19, 2014; updated Sep. 7, 2021), as seen at SmallBizTrends.com, agrees that “The psychology of color is used in advertising and marketing to evoke emotional reactions.” The aforementioned article also offers a brief history of color that I found very interesting – you may, too.
Be careful not to blink, nature’s fall colors will be ablaze in just a few months and National Color Day is coming October 22nd!
IN CLOSING…
In honor of July, being National Blueberry Month, here is Mom’s copycat recipe for “Blueberry Open-Face Pie – Like Polly Pie Shop’s”; as seen in her last book, Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 250). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition)].
P.S. Food-for-thought until we meet again, next Monday…
Other July observances include: National Baked Bean Month, National Culinary Arts Month, National Grilling Month, National Horseradish Month, National Ice Cream Month, Independent Retailer Month, National Picnic Month, and National Peach Month!
Additionally, July 3rd – Aug. 11th is considered The Dog Days of Summer!
Today is also… National Sour Candy Day and National Caviar Day!
Tomorrow is… National Daiquiri Day!
July 20th is… National Fortune Cookie Day, National Lollipop Day, and National Pennsylvania Day! Plus, as the third Wednesday in July (for 2022), it’s also… National Hot Dog Day (AND, it’s… National Hot Dog Month, too)!
July 21st is… National Junk Food Day and National Be Someone Day! Plus, as the third Thursday of the third quarter (for 2022), it’s also… Get to Know Your Customers Day!
Friday, July 22nd is… National Penuche Fudge Day and National Hammock Day!
Saturday, July 23rd is… Gorgeous Grandma Day and National Vanilla Ice Cream Day!
July 24th is… National Tequila Day, National Drive-Thru Day, National Cousins Day, and National Amelia Earhart Day! Plus, as the fourth Sunday in July (for 2022), it’s also… National Parent’s Day! If you can, give yours some love!
Happy heavenly #NationalParentsDay, Mom & Dad!
…29 down and 23 to go!
