Top News From Today's "Boomiverse"
Who Are Today's Boomer Consumers?
Lewis Green
Marketing Profs Daily Fix
March 22, 2007
Overview: Green reflects on advertising to the boomer consumer. He writes, “This ain't my parents' generation, baby. And we aren't in that 18 - 35 group either. But we have money to spend and the energy to spend it freely. However, advertisers don't seem to know we exist. And if they do, their messages and visuals generally miss the mark.” Green goes on to say, “We believe in fun, friends, parties, poetry, books, music and dance. We love NASCAR, baseball, basketball and football and don't know soccer from rugby. We are good ol' boys and girls and feminists and red necks and jean-clad professionals, conservatives and liberals who vote and who are sometimes too PC. We are the 400-pound gorilla in America's living room, wanting to live on, not retire. According to Eileen Marcus, Fleishman-Hillard Senior Partner, we have $2.1 trillion in spending power.”
http://www.mpdailyfix.com/2007/03/we_aint_ready_for_the_rockin_c.html
High Gas Prices Not Slowing RV Industry
Elliott Minor
Associated Press
March 22, 2007
Overview: Although gas prices are high, RV sales have yet to slow down. Minor reports, “The recreational vehicle industry has been reporting record sales for the past five years, despite rising costs at the pump. Insiders credit a growing number of baby boomers who want the gas-guzzling vehicles for retirement and younger families opting for vacations closer to home for offsetting any potential losses because of soaring fuel costs.”
Baby Boomer Obesity Takes Its Toll on the Health Care Economy
Insurance News Net
March 21, 2007
Overview: In this article, the effects of the obesity epidemic are discussed. According to the article, “now there is clearly a marked increase in obesity affecting the baby boomer generation which could take its toll on our economy.” Additionally, “a study by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) revealed more boomers are suffering from obesity than the previous (“silent”) generation. BIDMC also observed that the condition developed at a younger age among boomers than in the silent generation…Ironically, while boomers have access to better nutrition and information about exercise than the previous generation a forthcoming study to be published by National Bureau of Economic Research found that boomers report experiencing more pain, drinking and psychiatric problems. Boomers also complained of difficulty in carrying out everyday tasks such as climbing stairs, carrying more than 10 pounds as well as kneeling or crouching.”