Another Good Year for Millionaire Households

For the sixth consecutive year, the number of millionaire households ($1MM+ net worth, not including primary residence) in the US increased significantly, reaching some 9.9 million, according to TNS's annual Affluent Market Research Program (AMRP), writes MarketingCharts. The number of millionaire households increased 5.9 percent from June 2006 to June 2007, TNS said. The top 10 […]

Posted: Friday, May 16th, 2008

As Boomers Retire, Lack of Specialized Medical Care Becomes a Concern

The vast majority of Boomers say it is important that their physician have specialized training in dealing with older patients, but a majority say they cannot find such a doctor, according to the first annual Senior Health Index from American System for Advancing Senior Health, writes MarketingCharts. Nearly nine in 10 women (88 percent) consider […]

Posted: Friday, May 9th, 2008

Wii Are Family — Kids Benefit from Social Gaming, Say UK Parents

UK parents say social gaming platforms like the Nintendo Wii have a positive influence in their homes: facilitating peer bonding and encouraging children exercise, according to a new TNS Technology survey, MarketingCharts writes. Below, some results from the study: Social gaming promotes bonding among kids - 52 percent of all users and 64 percent of parents […]

Posted: Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Top 10 Boomer Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction

Preconceived notions about Baby Boomers abound, but many are mere myth, according to the third Quarterly Boomer Report from AARP Services and Focalyst, titled "How Well Do You Know Boomers? Counting Down the Top 10 Boomer Myths," writes MarketingCharts. "Contrary to many common assumptions, Boomers are making retirement obsolete, are very savvy about advertising, and […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

Financial Strain on Family Life Tops Issues Most Crucial to Women

Women and their families experience tremendous financial pressure on issues ranging from housing, to credit card debt, to healthcare. As a result, family women are concerned about long-term financial security, according to a Meredith Corporation/NBC Universal survey, writes MarketingCharts. The "What do Women Want?" survey included 3,000 women and covered a range of topics important to […]

Posted: Monday, April 28th, 2008

Older Web Users: Online Content, Ads Aimed at Young

Most internet users age 45 or older say content online serves less their needs and interests than those of younger persons, according to (pdf) a Burst Media survey on the availability of age-appropriate online content, website design and targeted advertising, writes MarketingCharts. Still, 67.7 percent of all respondents say their daily routine would be disrupted […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

Behavioral Targeting (Mostly) OK by Consumers — If Privacy, Security Safeguards Instituted

Most US adults are uncomfortable about websites using online activity to customize content or ads. But if site privacy and security policies are improved, most would be comfortable with the practice, according to a new study, writes MarketingCharts. Specifically, the Harris Interactive survey found: Six in ten (59 percent) are not comfortable when sites like Google, […]

Posted: Monday, April 14th, 2008

Americans More Comfortable with Kids' Social Networking, Chat Room Use

Americans are growing more comfortable with young people's use of the internet - including social-networking sites, chat rooms and email - according to the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (CICAC), MarketingCharts reports. Among the findings of the study conducted by Zogby International survey, together with 463 Communications, on behalf of CICAC: 27.7 percent of Americans in […]

Posted: Thursday, April 10th, 2008

More Coupon Use Planned for Recession, Many Like Paperless

Tough times and technology advancements portend a renaissance of coupon use among shoppers. 67 percent of those surveyed by ICOM Information & Communications (ICOM) saying they are more likely to use coupons during a recession, writes MarketingCharts. Of the 1,529 US consumers participating in the survey, 45 percent said they were much more likely to do […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

Social Media Marketing Still Lacks Strong Metrics

Companies adopt social media as a marketing tool but struggle to find effective metrics, writes Paul Gillin (author of The New Influencers) in a report issued by the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR), MarketingCharts writes. "New Media, New Influencers, and Implications for the Public Relations Profession" is based on findings from a survey of […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 1st, 2008

To Adopt Mobile P2P Payments, Consumers Want Speed and Security

Demand for high-speed mobile person-to-person (mobile P2P) payments and transfers is growing, with one in ten consumers saying they would likely use the service if it were available, according to a report by Javelin Strategy and Research, MarketingCharts writes. Still, 67 percent of consumers surveyed express clear hesitance using mobile P2P payment services, saying they […]

Posted: Friday, March 28th, 2008

To Reach Hispanic Boomers, Advertisers Must Look Beyond Language

Hispanic Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) represent about 10 percent of the US Boomer segment — over 7 million consumers — but cannot be segmented by language alone, a Focalyst study concludes (pdf), MarketingCharts reports. "Marketers need to look beyond language and understand the demographic, attitudinal and behavioral differences within the Hispanic Boomer market […]

Posted: Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Retirement Planning Grips 67% of Adults

Americans often think of numbers that reflect their identity, like their birthday (cited by 26 percent) or social security number (16 percent), rather than what they have or aspire to have (5 percent cited a dollar amount). But 67 percent sometimes or often think about what they need to save or invest for retirement, MarketingCharts reports. That's […]

Posted: Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Six in 10 Wealthy Consumers Online Use Social Networks

The participation of wealthy online consumers in social networks dramatically increased to 60 percent in 2008, from 27 percent in 2007, according to The Luxury Institute's latest WealthSurvey, "The Wealthy and Web 2.0," MarketingCharts writes. According to the report: Participation levels of online wealthy consumers in leading social networks are 16 percent for MySpace, 13 percent for […]

Posted: Thursday, March 13th, 2008

Online Video in High Demand - In-Stream Ads Not So Much

72 percent of online respondents to a Burst Media survey said they view online video, with men more likely than women to say so - 76.6 percent versus 67.7 percent. In each age segment, most said they watch online videos, including 58.6 percent of those 65+, MarketingCharts writes. Among the survey findings: Some 58.8 percent say they view […]

Posted: Monday, March 10th, 2008

Baby Boomers Not So Unhealthy, After All

Contradicting studies that call Boomers less healthy than the generations preceding them, a study by ThirdAge Inc. and JWT BOOM finds 87 percent of Baby Boomers and aging mid-lifers ("ThirdAgers") are in "good to excellent" health, writes MarketingCharts. The "Boomers, Healthcare and Interactive Media Study" was conducted online at www.thirdage.com with over 1,300 respondents 40+ years […]

Posted: Wednesday, January 9th, 2008

40MM Green Boomers Seek Environmentally Friendly Brands

Socially conscious attitudes are a driving force behind how boomers shop and the brands they choose to buy, according to the second Boomer Quarterly Report from AARP Services, Inc. and Focalyst, writes MarketingCharts. The report, It's Good to Be Green: Socially Conscious Shopping Behaviors Among Boomers, examines how eco-friendly messages — including advertising — resonate with […]

Posted: Friday, December 21st, 2007

Grandparents Spend Billions on Their Grandchildren

Grandparents in the US spend billions of dollars on their grandchildren per year — nearly $1700 on average on every new grandchild, for example — according to a study unveiled during last week's Meet the Grandparents Marketing Forum in New York, writes MarketingCharts. The report from Grandparents.com and Focalyst, Meet the Grandparents: Introducing Today's First Time […]

Posted: Monday, December 10th, 2007

Generational Index, Holiday Gift-Giving Study: Americans Watching Wallets

Most Americans plan to cut back or freeze holiday spending, though many will give homemade presents and make charitable donations, according to the GfK Roper Consulting annual holiday shopping outlook and new index that measures generational attitudes, writes MarketingCharts. On average, Americans will spend $662 on their holiday spree, and the average gift list for both […]

Posted: Thursday, December 6th, 2007

Targeting Parent-Nurturing Boomers, Caring.com Launches

With research finding that US seniors would sooner die than be scuttled into nursing homes, a new site targeting adults caring for elderly parents launched this week. Called caring.com, founder Andy Cohen got the idea after going back and forth between San Francisco and Chicago to take care of his ailing mother. Cohen told Advertising Age there […]

Posted: Wednesday, November 21st, 2007