Posted on 04/16/2006 7:46:31 PM PDT by SirLinksalot
American boomers now a $2 trillion market From stocks to sex, marketers target a big-spending demographic
Every day in the U.S., 10,000 baby boomers celebrate their 50th birthdays. Their generation spends $2 trillion a year. Mindful of that spending, every marketer worth his or her MBA is pitching to them -- everything from new makeup lines for women who burned their bras, to age-friendly technology, to "active adult" communities, to sex.
In the coming week, CNBC will take a look at the businesses and industries that are targeting this market segment -- and how well they're faring.
Some 78 million strong, boomers have influenced American society all their lives. That's not going to change as they begin to make decisions about this next stage: how to continue to work, when to retire, where to live, how to dress, what to drive, whom to love, how to find meaning.
The oldest boomers just turning 60 are, in most cases, the senior generation in their families. Their parents have gone, their children’s education is paid for, they’re free to spend, to make increasingly more conservative investment decisions, to pile up an estate to live on during their impending and lengthy retirements.
The youngest boomers are now turning 42 – the so-called "sandwich generation." When the phone rings late at night, the trouble could come from either their parents or their kids. For many, their parents are still with them, living longer. Tuition bills are still a major concern, with plenty of spending in the years before college as well. Still, if they have the wherewithal, they’re beginning to look ahead, to think about what happens next.
Whatever they do, they're not going to fade off to Florida like their parents. Fortunes will be made on their likes and dislikes.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
--Every day in the U.S., 10,000 baby boomers celebrate their 50th birthdays.
Heh heh..not me, I'm only 48.
Baby boomers have been a targeted market as long as I can remember.
This is an odd piece. The boomers have been a marketer's dream since they were free spending teenagers. I've read the same crap for 30+ years - nothing new here.
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?print=yes&id=14045
"May 1 Is Conservative Shopping Day!"
Even now the media tacitly assume everyone rides a nice job to retirement at 62/65.
How about some consideration of some like I've met who lost (nearly) everything after layoff at 45-50+ and subsequent extended unemployment and no amount of "re-careering" helped one iota ? There's hundreds of thousands (millions ?)out there I'm sure, fallen off the rolls so no longer counted, but who could still contribute if someone would give them a break (even an interview would be a start).
What a terrible waste.
Then why do the major broadcast companies continue to kill off Oldies stations and program TV shows for the 18-34 year old market?
If they don't program to us, then the media buyers will have to find other ways to reach us.
Stocks having to do with "regenerative technologies".
No, I don't think boomer men are targeted at all unless they think we enjoy being insulted.
Muleteam1
Opinion: They don't want to program to you.
Personally, I like the 60's music.
It's great.
Bah, bye, Boomers! Don't let the casket top hit you on the way out!
"And where is my share or that two trillion dollars????
"
Your congress critters spent it!
This one is not a shopper. In fact, I hate shopping. I am going minimalist. I suggest you all follow me.
buy health care and pharmaceutical stocks, there will be 78 million getting old.
I specialize in LTC insurance. When I was deciding my occupation, nearly 10 years ago, I chose to market a niche product that would be popular with most boomers.
I haven't been disappointed!
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