A decision was made in 1988, he said, to sell consumers on the idea that Eagle was more mainstream, standing for "good quality, but for everybody."

But a farmer and entrepreneur in Minnesota is hoping to sell consumers on a new one: popped amaranth seeds.

The actor will often be able to sell consumers on their product without those consumers even realizing that they are being marketed to.

It still is much easier to sell consumers on a camera's price, style, color, image-stabilization abilities, wireless ability or even its many preset shooting modes like fireworks, underwater or dining.

The mail-order houses can charge less than drugstores because they buy in enormous quantities and typically sell consumers several months' supply at a time.

A recorded-music giant is hoping a make-believe "love therapist" can sell consumers on the concept of buying compilation albums of love songs by various artists.

Mr. Fier and Plaza's directors say the chapel has little incentive to sell bereaved consumers more expensive coffins and add-on products and services.

Hollywood studio chiefs who are responsible for making five-year plans see the writing on the wall for the current generation of DVD's, and know they need something new to sell consumers.

It is a bit surprising to see this theme appear in a discussion of advertising, which, after all, sells consumers on the pleasures of immediate gratification.

Lately, it has become increasingly hard to sell consumers and corporations new computers because so many consumers and businesses already own them.