We live in interesting times. Marketing to women is hitting its stride, and this is definitely progress, but in some cases reaching women seems to be attached to bashing men. Hmmm. Is that truly relevant to the majority of female consumers?
Television ad campaigns, and even full-on sitcoms, … Read on >
New research from Cone, Inc. has found that, when price and quality are about equal, 77 percent of consumers will choose a brand that supports a cause. (See Cone’s DoYouStandForSomething blog for the link to that study).
I’d venture to say that if a brand’s cause "fits" with … Read on >
Did anyone ask if you wanted to add a life to your current one? No one asked me, or I would have said no thank you. So, I now ponder the differences between those who were dying for a Second Life and those who’d be happy with just the one. … Read on >
Turns out, both men and women have empathy (who knew?), but feel free to give in to it under different circumstances. Ian Austen writes in a New York Times article (reg. required) that men will more likely show empathy, i.e. cry, if a sad thing happens in a movie … Read on >
1) The latest Packaged Facts report on the U.S. Men’s Market finds that there is a significant, if minority, segment of men who: "…place a premium on staying fit and looking good and following fashion. Rather than viewing shopping as a necessary chore, they enjoy shopping as … Read on >
This just in: Lululemon, a yoga/fitness-wear maker with much marketing savvy and that I, for one, have been going ga-ga overfor a few years (even though it is not inexpensive), has been caught in a contradiction. This is something that could happen to any brand, but this news is worth … Read on >
Though I knew what the trendspotters were trying to get at in the past few years, I was never a big fan of the term "metrosexual." So, here we are at the end of 2007, still searching for a way to define this new type of more holistic-shopping-inclined male consumer. … Read on >
I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks the supposed hottest trends have long since peaked by the time they get "buzz." This makes me wonder: who defines trends and do we need to wait for those trends to become "official" (by being mentioned in three business magazines, for … Read on >
Maybe it’s because pink gadgets and spa/salon party events marketed to young women get soooo much press, but they aren’t the only ones buying. Young men are buying, and they are also interested in the latest/looking good. However, they’d perhaps prefer to seem unaware of such things. As a recent … Read on >
Peak: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow
by Chip Conley
I'm a big psychology buff, so this application of Maslow's hierarchy of needs to the business realm fascinated (and resonated) with me. As Conley mentions, psychology in business has long been about "fixing it," but that won't necessarily "offer the opportunity for transformation to a more optimal state of being or productivity." Everyone can learn from this discussion.
The Sexual Paradox: Men, Women and the Real Gender Gap
by Susan Pinker
A fascinating examination of how sex differences play out over the life span. One interesting quote: "For most women it's less a question of who's able to win. It's whether competing feels good and is worth the cost."
Robin Hood Marketing: Stealing Corporate Savvy to Sell Just Causes
by Katya Andresen
Andresen writes that causes can learn from traditional marketers, but after reading this, I'd argue that traditional marketers can learn from the causes profiled. An interview with Andresen is included in my eBook, 9 Minds On Marketing.
You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
by Deborah Tannen
Men have a more asymmetrical, positioning approach to communication, while women have a more symmetrical, connecting approach. This is a classic worth revisiting frequently.
BOOM: Marketing to the Ultimate Power Consumer -- The Baby-Boomer Woman
by Mary Brown and Carol Orsborn
It's a hot topic - and the case studies and examples presented in BOOM can offer up insights to get you started.
