Master/Slave Monopolies

[Charles Behney <charlesaugust@theriver.com>]

NYT shows that McSoft, cigarettes and CATV have relations with consumers

characterized as 'master/slave.' No wonder these industries are beloved
by Wall Street. Nothing like a captive market to make the markets rise.

cab

http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/08/biztech/articles/02soft.html

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> Ms. Fournier applies "relationship theory" to
>         consumer-brand research. Based on surveys of adults,
>         she has characterized the primary relationship
>         consumers have with products they are familiar with.
>         For example, Harley-Davidson, the motorcycle brand
>         with a fanatic following, is "best friend." The
>         "mother-child" relationship tends to be how consumers
>         regard Johnson & Johnson and AT&T, while
>         McDonald's and Kraft Foods' Jello dessert brand fall
>         into the category of "childhood buddy."
>
>         The Microsoft relationship, according to Ms. Fournier,
>         is "master-slave."
>
>         Two other kinds of brands, she says, fit into the
>         master-slave grouping: monopolies like the local cable
>         television supplier or the local telephone company, and
>         products that are addictive like cigarettes.
>

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