Boomer Men vs. Boomer Women as Shoppers
My post yesterday about Boomers vs. Gen X’ers as shoppers got me to wondering about the differences between men and women as shoppers. So I did some research and I have some comments on how this research might affect your business:
- Women think about shopping as much as men think about sex. Women think about shopping every 60 seconds, while men think about sex every 52 seconds. Wow! Is that possible? (I mean about the men; I’m sure women think about shopping that often.)
- Women spend more time shopping online than do men. No surprise there, given the amount of time women spend thinking about it.
- Men shop as hunters; women shop as gatherers. In other words, men get in quickly, “giterdone,” and get out. Women tend to spend time looking, socializing, and considering options.
Of course, not everyone follows the “model.” My husband tends to shop more like a woman, and he enjoys shopping, which has always surprised me. On the other hand, I shop more like a man; I’m not interested in wandering from store to store looking for just the right thing. I’d rather get in, buy what I want, and get out. I consider it a colossal waste of time, which is why I do most of my shopping online. I haven’t been to a mall in years.So what does all of this information (from research studies, by the way) do for you as a small business retailer? It depends on the kind of business you have, and what type of customers. Here are some thoughts/suggestions:
- For most businesses, recognize that women are your primary customers and that they will be doing most of the buying. Women buy most of the cars, for example, even though men are supposed to be the car buyers.
- Appeal to women’s buying habits (the “grazing” mentality). This means providing information and focusing as much on the relationship you have with your customers as you do with the sale. For example, my favorite clothing store )VonMaur, a midwest retailer) sends out a personal card to me thanking me for my purchases, and they have pianos playing in each store to add a touch of I-don’t-know-what-but-it-works.
- Boomer women shoppers also like the idea of “value” (the concept that they are getting their money’s worth. Von Maur offers no interest (a higher monthly payment) on all purchases, which I see as value.
What other ways could your business benefit from considering the differences between men and women shoppers?
Tags: baby boomers, men and women, sex, shoppingRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Being A Boomer, Boomer Talk, Marketing, Mindset
0 opinions for Boomer Men vs. Boomer Women as Shoppers
No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: