Have you ever been annoyed at yourself for rushing out to buy a product after seeing a glitzy advert? Well, that's advertising for you! We know what it's designed to do, but we're still persuaded to part with our hard earned cash.

In today's London Life, we visit the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising and speak to the director, Robert Opie, to find out when it all started and to get an insight into why it all works so well.

Before you listen to the programme look at these comprehension questions. You'll hear the answers during the programme. You can also download this programme in mp3 format and a transcript from the Extras section below.

1: What's the main aim of branding, packaging and advertising?
2: When did 'the packaging revolution' begin?
3: What sort of information could be found on a package?

Listen to London Life
	Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising

Vocabulary from the programme

advertising
making goods look and sound as attractive as possible on TV, radio and in print to encourage as many people as possible to buy them

branding
giving products the special design or symbol of a company so that they are easy to recognise

packaging
the wrapping, bags or boxes that goods are put into to protect them and make them more attractive to customers

a grocer
someone who owns or works in a shop that sells food and small items for the home

to dole out
to measure out

manufacturers
the people or companies that make goods

enticing
tempting, very attractive, sometimes hard to resist

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Extras
Try the London Life quiz
Programme script (pdf - 20k)
Download this programme (mp3 - 1.8mb)
Find out more about the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising*

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