Re-Think Pink

Why is it that every time I turn around, another everyday household product is being re-wrapped with a pink label in support of the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation? Although I have no specific numbers to back the claim I'm about to make, I'd venture to say that the 'portion of the proceeds' from the sale of said items is marginal. If consumers really wanted to make a difference in the search for a cure, then they, and every woman who's ever found a lump in her breast, would be better off if people supported the cause the good old fashioned way....by writing a check. Novel idea, I know, but think about it. Say you spend 50 bucks a week on groceries and lets pretend for a moment that EVERY item you bought was a carefully pink labeled product. Lets also suppose that 10% of the SALE price of each item (not even profit, but full sale price) was donated. I believe that would give us the following math:

$50 x 52 weeks = $2,600 x .10 = $260

I'm on a roll here, so let's suppose an average family of 4 makes at least $60,000. If my math is correct, that means that your yearly donation through grocery purchases would be .43% of your gross income. Not even half of one percent. Do yourself a favor and cut out the middle man. Don't allow yourself to be emotionally hijacked into buying one product over another because of that cheap pink label or any other manipulative marketing tricks.

If you are wondering - yes, I have donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation directly. More than once.