Every (successful) business in the world relies on advertising. That's how people know to look there for something.
I only took a few required business courses, but i'm pretty sure "sitting in an alleyway and hoping someone walks in there asking for what you're selling" isn't one of the chapters in a typical business textbook.
Also, why does the last-resort argument always have the word "sheep" in it? Frankly, if you're too weak-willed to resist an ad from Target, being coerced into buying Tupperware sets for half-off are the least of your problems.