Almost every large consumer facing company has a huge advertising budget.

And they have for a very good reason.

People are easily manipulated, and advertising is subconscious manipulation.

I abhor all ads, and I never get how Americans actually willingly watch TV with the constant garbage thats stuffed into your brain. (it's not nearly as bad in most of Europe)

But then again, our economic model is dependent on driving demand (aka on people continuing to buy stuff, always more stuff), so it all works out.

Just see advertising as the necessary grease in the economic engine that is endless consumption.