Friday Blog Question: Which Skymall Persona are you?

While flying back to Phoenix recently, I found myself thumbing through a SkyMall catalog and was easily transfixed by the Voice-Activated R2-D2 and wondering how it would glide along the carpet in my house. While I was tempted to buy, I decided that my pets might also freak out with a robot running amuck in the living room. This got me wondering; I can’t be the only one who has wanted a Beverage Buggy or my very own Marauder’s Map from Harry Potter. SO, what have you been tempted to buy from SkyMall, or wanted so badly that you bought from the famous catalog? And which of their customer targets do you think you fall into: Nervous traveler who wishes he had a Skymall relaxation pillow? Annoyed traveler who wishes she had Skymall sleeping darts for children? Corak traveler who is on his fourteenth out of town pitch this week and absolutely needs a Skymall 5 hour energy intravenous feeder?

I'm the persona you didn't mention. I just like to laugh at the catalog and the people who buy stuff from it. Disclaimer: I mean no offense to anyone who has purchased from SkyMall. But I am laughing at you. Joseph Jaramillo

I don't have a dog, but I absolutely hate children. So I would get the Anti Bark Collar, and put it on the kid on the plane who keeps running up and down the aisle yelling, "Mommy!" You know - one of those darling little pests that should have been checked through with the baggage back at the airport. Eric Reid

My wife and I have been tempted to buy one of those little ramps for our dog to get up onto the bed. Sure, they can already jump up but it would be funny. Will Smith (Yes, Will Smith)

When looking through a SkyMall catalog I find myself wondering who thought of these weird concepts or how some of them even made it to the production line. Sometimes the catalog gets me a little paranoid like what if I do need a mold detector or I'll probably need a massive cd storage case for when I might possibly open a record store. Nick Hammond

Fake plant that hides my cat’s litter box in a charming Tuscan-inspired terra cotta pot. Goes well with overstuffed furniture, beige walls, and a sense of delusion. Sara Wachter-Boettcher

I’m the person who looks at SkyMall as a form of amusing entertainment. I can’t help looking through it and wondering, who comes up with this stuff? Who sat down one day and decided that everyone needs spikes that conveniently strap to the bottom of your shoes to make aerating your lawn quick, easy, efficient, and enjoyable? The man in the picture certainly seems to look like this particular product solved all his life’s problems. What I find even more amusing than the fact that there are people whose sole purpose in life is sitting around thinking up this stuff is that it probably wouldn’t be in the catalogue if a significant number of people weren’t purchasing it. Who are these people buying up replicas of Harry Potter’s wand and pet stairs so your beloved 4 legged friend doesn’t strain themselves jumping on and off your bed? I can’t ever think of a time when I complimented someone on something they owned and received a proud response of “I ordered it from SkyMall!” Are they just ashamed to admit that their most recent purchase was made on a whim while several miles in the air? With all the restrictions (especially in the last few years) of what you can and cannot bring on a plane and then do once you are on the plane, one has to admire the fact that SkyMall has for years targeted an almost perfect audience-bored credit card carrying travelers with nothing better to do with their time in the air but shop from a catalogue that carries enough worthless junk to satisfy even the consumer with the most discriminating taste. Vanessa Geary

All i know is on my way to Chicago I was answering my 118 emails and not reading my Time or Newsweek. I noticed that the guy next to me in the middle set was actually reading Sky Mall, and when I offered aforementioned Time and Newsweek I though he was going to cry from joy. Karma, it goes around. Just sayin. Julie Ott

About the Author: Ellen Stevens

As the Search Media Manager for Off Madison Ave’s interactive division, Mighty Interactive, Ellen develops and manages strategic online paid search and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaigns for clients of all sizes. She is also the head of the internship program at Off Madison Ave. Ellen uses her previous agency internship experience to be an effective mentor and help the students develop skills they will need professionally after graduation. Ellen graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a certificate in international business.

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