ABSTRACT
The development of consumerism stems from the emergence of materialism, hedonism, and sensate values among all major sectors of modern society. Business organizations recognized that their success was dependent on more than the organization of production. Technological advancements in the media of communication had opened up new possibilities for the dissemination of consumer information and persuasive appeals. Retail therapy is a frequent practice in a modern society among those who use shopping and consumption as compensation for whatever is missing in their personal lives. Bargains are looked upon as good for "mood repair" or as a momentary escape from the demands and stresses of everyday life. The magical qualities of commodities are reflected in the experiences of consumers with the objects they encounter in the marketplace. The term commodification of everything refers to the process by which all things are transformed into objects having a market value.
