OUIL501 - Pester Power research

• Pester Power is a term used to refer to the tactic that some corporations use of targeting their marketing towards children in order to encourage them to pester their parents into buying whatever is being advertised.
• Targeted marketing towards children was first seen in the early 1950's with the first childrens TV advert for the Mr Potato head toy. 
• Companies often target their marketing at very young children in order to instil the idea of brand loyalty as they grow older.
• Childhood obesity is linked to Pester Power, as the main products that are marketed to children are fast food, sugary cereals and fizzy drinks. Mcdonald's is the largest toy distributor in the world as uses the inclusion of a toy within Happy Meal's to directly market their food to children. 
• The rise in the use of Pester Power could also be linked to the commercialisation of public holidays like Christmas, Easter and Halloween. Specific advertisements for these holidays always target children at times like these with holiday specific items.