Posted on: 26 November, 2001
Author: Gary Onks
Its a ... fact. There are more people over the age of50 than ever before. Seniors are the fastest growing ... our ... and their ... spending power gives riseto a new sell Its a demographic fact. There are more people over the age of50 than ever before. Seniors are the fastest growing segmentof our population, and their incredible spending power gives riseto a new selling rule, Whoever has the gold rules. Seniorshave the gold, thus they rule. So being a senior is very cool.Seniors are the most affluent consumer group that exists. Morethan one out of every four people, over 81 million consumers inthe US, is over 50 years old. Over 79 percent of all savings accountsare held by those over age 55. Seniors buy more from desire thanneed and love to pay their bills fully and on time. They also havemore disposable income than other age groups and control over48 percent of all discretionary purchases that occur. They haveextremely stable incomes, are more cash positive, and morewilling and interested in getting what they want, than any otherage group. They are avid readers of newspapers and magazinesand most open all promotional mail sent to them. They are30 percent more likely to purchase on-line than younger users.Most companies have yet to take note of the incredible spendingpower, statistics and monetary figures about seniors. They don'tfocus on the senior market. Business failures of the 21st Centurywill not be companies lacking innovative products, they will becompanies lacking seniorized marketing skills. It is time forcorporate America to wake up, pay attention and get with it.The age wave has arrived.Here are some tips on selling to seniors:* Always sell up from the heart up. Use a personal touch with an honest-to-goodness caring attitude towards them and their well-being.* Give seniors attention and quality time.* Show pictures of active people over 50 in your marketing materials.* Trigger memories from another time. Market to them through their era - talk to the old kid.* Link to their feelings and emotions. Listen and bond with them, focus on their needs.* In person feed them munchies like soda pop and cookies. Indulge their sense of taste & smell.* Call them in the morning or early evening, never at meal time.* Never cold call. Send information then follow-up. Be discreet.* Forget the high gloss, high tech, loud music sales pitch. Use pleasing colors and soft sounds.* Print big and bold, make things readable, use lots of white space.* Signage needs ample lighting inside stores and out in parking lot.* Emphasize Safety, Independence, and Security. Understand they tire easily and wipe out.* Stay in contact. Write to them, call them, remember they are lonely and need people. Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com