01 February 2006

Advisory Board Appointment to Ignite VP

I'm pleased to announce my appointment to The Advisory Board of Ignite VP:
Ignite Venture Partners is an early-stage business incubator focused primarily on the Healthy Living Sector. Our principals have experience researching, working in and launching new ventures in wellness, fitness and medical companies, and have established deep professional relationships with thought leaders, academics, senior executives and investors in these industries.
I'd better lose a few pounds to help create and sustain the illusion that I'm in tip-top physical condition before the first board meeting…

My first project will be helping to get Booming up and running:
Booming will serve as a learning enrichment center where Boomers can find multiple sources of traditional and hands-on learning. The center will also be a gathering place where members can come together through shared interests and passions.
…. and keep scrolling. Lots of other intriguing ventures are happily incubating.

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27 January 2006

Deloitte All Over It

As I write this, Deloitte & Touche has 50+ marketing and advertising all over their main page:
Heads up. Your consumers are changing. The first Baby Boomers turn 60 this year and, by 2008, older consumers will dominate the U.S. marketplace. Your biggest customer base will be 50-to-80 year olds—and they will require your undivided attention.
Inside there's a well-written, easy to digest marketing report (PDF), a podcast featuring Patrick Conroy, and all sorts of goodies tucked away here.

24 January 2006

For Mature Audiences

I don't make it a practice to link to subscription sites - but this is a fun article by Mary Tannen in New York Times Magazine:
Nice as it would be to believe that older women in high places (and a few enlightened men) are at last recognizing the allure of the post-Edenic Eve, that is, a woman with experience who knows what she wants and how to get it, some hard economics may also be wooing the cosmetic and fashion industries away from their long love affair with youth.

It's a free article (not TimesSelect - yet) so if you can't get to it, fill out the form and virtually subscribe. Do it fast before you do have to pay.

21 January 2006

THE VOICE OF AMERICA SPEAKS

It doesn't quite carry the gravitas it once did, but VOA is still one of the top news sources around the world. So you'd better read (or watch) their generic report on marketing to Baby Boomers:
Melanie Ulricksen is 53. She says she's fed up with products that try to make her look younger. "I don't want to be 55 trying to look like I'm 35. Give me something that makes what I have look nicer."
Nothing much new here, although it's worth listening to the sensible advice of Revlon's CMO, Stephanie Peponis:
"We want to make her look her best today. That's different from turning back the clock."
On second thought - this report, though not the most arousing piece of reportage, probably should be rammed down the throats of every advertising agency power-that-be. Of course, only clients can do that.

And I wonder when they will. Clients had better wise up fast and demand intelligent creative when targeting Baby Boomers:
A consulting group, Deloitte, predicts Baby Boomers will dominate the marketplace by 2008.

20 January 2006

Boomers, Vacation, Travel

Mirroring a chapter in my book about vacations and travel, add these two trends:

Exotic cruises profit from baby boomers
Affluent cruise passengers are eschewing placid days on a sun lounger for exotic trips to middle-eastern archaeological sites and night clubs.
Volunteering travel is a big success with the 50-plus
Over-5Os make excellent volunteers as they bring with them different life skills and a different outlook to younger volunteers. They tend to be more patient and have very good communication and people skills. Older volunteers sometimes take on a role as an unofficial group leader when placed with younger volunteers which seems to work well. All the skills complement each other.

Now in its eleventh year, i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique travel and work experiences to people of all ages, from all backgrounds.