Brands are facing a gender-fraught crossroads and it may well be a little uncomfortable there. Should they focus in on women and forget about men, or vice versa? Are men really starting to shop more like women? What the heck does that mean?
Well… it IS complicated, but as is so … Read on >
Do you remember when you started to notice people drinking water in bottles? Since those of us who are Baby Boomers or Gen Xers grew up with soft drinks (or "pop" as we used to say in my Midwestern neck of the woods) all around us, that changeover was extremely … Read on >
Count me as one of the 40.5 million women (out of 90 million people) expected to watch the Super Bowl on February 3rd. Where usually I am not … Read on >
I’ve got polar winds on my mind today (it’s cooooold in Vermont), and have been inspired by recent news about people with forethought to ease polarization around hot-button issues. Ah.. there’s hope!
See my full post at eBrandMarketing, or just ponder the following excerpt:
Is
polarization a habit for some people … Read on >
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 >
Meet Bobby McKinney. Your local Avon man. "Forget the product,
forget it’s Avon. This is a very viable business," says the 58-year-old
fire code inspector from Winter Haven, Fla. He rang up about $800,000
in sales last year along with his wife and has about 170 sales reps
under him.
That is exactly … Read on >
I’ve been writing about a gender trap recently - in that lots of brands are still approaching the women’s market at the extreme of the gender pendulum (in an overly “girly” manner) when they don’t need to. One way to demonstrate this is to talk about brands that are marketing … Read on >
Did you ever notice that ours seems to be a self-regulating culture when it comes to gender and stereotypes? When the ways of the world get too masculine, women step in and stir up the waters to get their due, and, so too, when the world veers too heavily … 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.
