Matthew Boyle, in a post for Bloomberg.com dated September 17, 2013, addressed a question that we at Odyssey have long struggled with and have discussed at length in our book "Odyssey: An Epic Journey". His article is entitled "Aging Boomers Befuddle Marketers Aching for $15 Trillion Prize". His article is well researched and he appears to understand the problem facing businesses and organizations that would like to do business extensively with the boomer generation. The problem is that the businesses, organizations and their marketing honchos do not understand with whom they are dealing. Many if not most perceive the current boomers as replicas of seniors of prior generations. They are content to stay at home and "experience" their elder years; their primary interest is finding the right senior community to call home; they purchase the same products that they always purchased; their interest is to withdraw from active participation in life and to finally just "relax".
While the generalizations listed above might apply to some boomers, it certainly does not consider the vast majority of boomers who are intent on changing the definition of this stage of life just as they have changed how the world viewed them at all stages of their lives from their college years through their early business careers to the present day. This generation has done things differently and they fully intend to continue and create a new definition of how seniors lead their lives.
This short post is only meant to introduce you to the problem. I will be posting two additional pieces in the coming days which will be more lengthy and will include facts that are often overlooked by businesses, organizations and marketers when designing and promoting products intended for the boomer generation and some ideas that might be considered by all dealing with boomers that will appeal to the senior market resulting in more sales, better service and a more thorough understanding of the populace they seek to serve. Hope to be back with you soon.
While the generalizations listed above might apply to some boomers, it certainly does not consider the vast majority of boomers who are intent on changing the definition of this stage of life just as they have changed how the world viewed them at all stages of their lives from their college years through their early business careers to the present day. This generation has done things differently and they fully intend to continue and create a new definition of how seniors lead their lives.
This short post is only meant to introduce you to the problem. I will be posting two additional pieces in the coming days which will be more lengthy and will include facts that are often overlooked by businesses, organizations and marketers when designing and promoting products intended for the boomer generation and some ideas that might be considered by all dealing with boomers that will appeal to the senior market resulting in more sales, better service and a more thorough understanding of the populace they seek to serve. Hope to be back with you soon.
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