Haul video
Encyclopedia
A haul video is a video
recording, posted to the Internet,
which displays items recently purchased, including product details or even the price. The posting of haul videos (or hauls) has been a growing trend, during 2007-2010.
By late 2010, nearly a quarter of a million haul videos had been shared on the website YouTube alone. Some of the individual videos have received tens of millions of views. Many young adults (mostly women) have displayed their shopping hauls, while including their beauty and design commentary in the narration. The videos are often grouped by store name or by type of product (cosmetics
, accessories
, shoes, postage stamps, etc.).
Before haul videos became an online trend, millions of people spent time watching other people, in technical product videos, unbox their latest new gadgets and technology. The trend of "unboxing
videos" had emerged during 2006. In those videos, the owners would show the entire process of opening, configuring, and activating their latest high-tech gadgets.
Haul videos also have created instant celebrity for some people. Two of the biggest American haul-video bloggers have been the sisters Elle and Blair Fowler
from Tennessee. By May 2010, their combined haul videos had been viewed more than 75 million times. Both sisters became represented by a Los Angeles-based talent agent. Other haul video bloggers have entered sponsorship deals and advertising programs from major brands. Some have translated their YouTube fame into product deals, magazine articles, and other media/journalism deals, however the majority of haulers are unsponsored and simply motivated by the social reward of being seen as an "expert" in shopping.
Haul videos rarely ever have anything negative to say about the products. The rationale for those positive reviews is that the buyers wouldn't typically purchase something unless they really wanted it. Hence, the owners generally report positive experiences, after having selected which products to buy. This aspect of the genre of haul videos makes sponsorship by brand advertisers particularly appealing. Brands such as J.C. Penney
reached out to haulers as part of their marketing efforts for Back To School 2010.
Haul videos also convinced three San Francisco Bay area natives to launch HaulBlog - a parody site that creates fake haul videos which poke fun at the phenomenon. The site is also home to the original monthly web series "The Haul Monitor" a humorous commentary show that features haul videos from around the community.
The United States Federal Trade Commission
recently enacted laws to regulate many types of online publishers and content creators. The posted information includes blogging and podcast
ing in text, images, audio and video.
While any publishers (including the haul-video creators) are allowed to accept free merchandise and advertising, the gifts or payments must be fully (and clearly) disclosed to reveal being paid by a brand name, as a sponsor, to review a product. The Canadian equivalent of the FTC in Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, is also closely monitoring such Internet activities.
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
recording, posted to the Internet,
which displays items recently purchased, including product details or even the price. The posting of haul videos (or hauls) has been a growing trend, during 2007-2010.
By late 2010, nearly a quarter of a million haul videos had been shared on the website YouTube alone. Some of the individual videos have received tens of millions of views. Many young adults (mostly women) have displayed their shopping hauls, while including their beauty and design commentary in the narration. The videos are often grouped by store name or by type of product (cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
, accessories
Fashion accessory
Fashion accessories are decorative items that supplement and complement clothes, such as jewelery, gloves, handbags, hats, belts, scarves, wigs, watches, sunglasses, pins, stockings, bow ties, hand fans, leg warmers, leggings, neckties, suspenders, and tights....
, shoes, postage stamps, etc.).
Before haul videos became an online trend, millions of people spent time watching other people, in technical product videos, unbox their latest new gadgets and technology. The trend of "unboxing
Unboxing
Unboxing is the unpacking of new products, especially hi-tech consumer products. The whole process is captured on video and later uploaded to the Internet. The term has been labeled a new form of "geek porn."...
videos" had emerged during 2006. In those videos, the owners would show the entire process of opening, configuring, and activating their latest high-tech gadgets.
Haul videos also have created instant celebrity for some people. Two of the biggest American haul-video bloggers have been the sisters Elle and Blair Fowler
Elle and Blair Fowler
Lisa "Elle" Fowler and Elizabeth "Blair" Fowler are sisters who post beauty and style-related tutorials on YouTube under the monikers AllThatGlitters21 and juicystar07 . Elle first stumbled into the beauty and fashion world of YouTube the summer of 2008, and soon convinced Blair to begin filming...
from Tennessee. By May 2010, their combined haul videos had been viewed more than 75 million times. Both sisters became represented by a Los Angeles-based talent agent. Other haul video bloggers have entered sponsorship deals and advertising programs from major brands. Some have translated their YouTube fame into product deals, magazine articles, and other media/journalism deals, however the majority of haulers are unsponsored and simply motivated by the social reward of being seen as an "expert" in shopping.
Haul videos rarely ever have anything negative to say about the products. The rationale for those positive reviews is that the buyers wouldn't typically purchase something unless they really wanted it. Hence, the owners generally report positive experiences, after having selected which products to buy. This aspect of the genre of haul videos makes sponsorship by brand advertisers particularly appealing. Brands such as J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
reached out to haulers as part of their marketing efforts for Back To School 2010.
Haul videos also convinced three San Francisco Bay area natives to launch HaulBlog - a parody site that creates fake haul videos which poke fun at the phenomenon. The site is also home to the original monthly web series "The Haul Monitor" a humorous commentary show that features haul videos from around the community.
The United States Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
recently enacted laws to regulate many types of online publishers and content creators. The posted information includes blogging and podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
ing in text, images, audio and video.
While any publishers (including the haul-video creators) are allowed to accept free merchandise and advertising, the gifts or payments must be fully (and clearly) disclosed to reveal being paid by a brand name, as a sponsor, to review a product. The Canadian equivalent of the FTC in Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, is also closely monitoring such Internet activities.