Woman-Centric Matters

Would you give up chocolate?

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:21:29 GMT

May 9, 2008

Apparently blogging is very *woman-centric*. According the Center for Media Research, a recent study about women and blogging was done by BlogHer and Compass Partners.

Women are so passionate about blogging, says the report, that large percentages said they would give something up to keep the blogs they read and/or write:

• 55% would give up alcohol
• 50% would give up their PDAs
• 42% would give up their i-Pod
• 43% would give up reading the newspaper or magazines
• only 20% would give up chocolate

Time shift from traditional media is accelerating in the general Internet population:
• 24% of women surveyed watch less television because of blogging
• 25% read fewer magazines because they are blogging
• 22% read fewer newspapers because they're blogging

In addition:
• More than half of women surveyed consider blogs a reliable source of advice and information
• Half of women surveyed say blogs influence their purchase decisions

How do you feel about blogging? A reliable source of information? Worth giving up chocolate or alcohol for? Let us know!

To see more facts from the study, visit http://www.blogher.com/files/BlogHer.CompassPartners.Social%20Media%20Study.ppt.pdf

A few good women...

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:54:33 GMT

April 20, 2008

In a new ad the US Marine Corps is marketing to women.
The ad featuring a woman commander is intended to appeal to young women who are weary of being separated from boys and men in sports and are eager to prove themselves on a larger stage, said Marshall Lauck, JWT’s lead executive on the Marines account.

“The message is that the Marine Corps offers a unique opportunity to earn that title and be shoulder to shoulder with your male counterparts,” Mr. Lauck said. “That’s an important aspect for the young women seeking that challenge, women seeking an opportunity for a great and selfless endeavor.”
To read more about this, go to this article from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/21/business/media/21adcol.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&ref=business&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

How do you feel about this push to recruit women? Let us know what you think!

International Women's Day

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:32:33 GMT

March 6, 2008

On March 8, women from all over the world will be celebrating International Women's Day.

International Women's Day (IWD) is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential.

What a great day for each of us to let the women in our lives know that we appreciate them! A hug, an extra "thank you", a smile, maybe even dinner out - let's see if each of us can use this opportunity to give the ladies in our lives an unexpected act of kindness...just for fun!

When the Chips are Down?

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:54:16 GMT

Feb 11 2008

In an effort to scoop up more sales from women 25-54, Frito-Lay’s Tostitos is prepping a year-long multiplatform campaign with Food Network’s Simply Delicioso. The alliance also is designed to leverage the breezy charms of Ingrid Hoffman, the show’s host, who is being groomed to follow in the star-studded “foodsteps” of Emeril Lagasse, Rachael Ray and Sandra Lee.

Personally, I don’t need a whole lot of encouragement to eat more Tostitos! And I don’t think having Rachel Ray tell me I should eat them will make a difference. But if you want to read more about this new ad campaign, visit http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003708872 Then come tell me how you feel about it!

Is this woman-centric marketing?

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:58:14 GMT

Monday, January 14, 2008

According to today’s Business Journal http://albany.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2008/01/14/story3.html , the Hampton Inn in downtown Albany, New York, is going to be offering a women-only floor to female guests. Guests will receive special amenities and services and the security of having exclusive access to the floor. Of course, security comes at a price. Twenty dollars extra a night, to be exact. Perhaps it helps that the electronic keys granting that exclusive access are pink. And we know all women like pink. Right?

What are your thoughts about this latest innovation in the lodging industry?

Business Resolutions for Women

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:08:45 GMT

A website aimed at women who want to start and grow their own businesses has launched a new Business Resolutions Program to help women achieve their New Year's Resolutions. "The IndieBizChicks.com Guide To: Business Resolutions To Make It Great In '08" is a guide and motivational tool for women who are ready to set and achieve their goals. For more information, go to http://www.indiebizchicks.com

Home Color Ideas

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 22:09:32 GMT

December 28, 2007

Woman-Centric Matters is the brainchild of Design Basics, the largest home plan design firm in America and a leading expert in marketing to women. In addition to home plans and marketing, we also publish Her Home magazine, which gives a wealth of helpful information about all-things home-related. So in addition to sharing facts and figures about the economic power of women and companies that "get it", I thought I would use this blog to share home tips with you. Let me know what you think!

Defining living areas in today’s open floor plans can be quite a challenge. Do you paint each area a different color, or opt for one color fits all? Josette Buisson, artistic director with Pittsburgh Paints says, “The law is that everything has to have a link and a flow.” Buisson continues, “There’s a main color and then lighter shades.” She advocates the 60:30:10 rule. Use 60 percent of one color, 30 percent of another and 10 percent of an accent color.

Jessica Gordon, color specialist and owner of Interior Artistry in Seattle, suggests choosing one color for the most public spaces and altering the shades in adjacent areas. “Keep the hallways and stairs one shade,” she says. “And only totally change color if you have good cut-off points like a soffit or a door between the living and dining rooms.”

Buisson likes to pick up the accent color (the 10 percent) and repeat it in an adjacent area. “If the living room has an accent color and you can see the kitchen from there, you might paint the entire kitchen in that color.”

Beat the Holiday Blues!

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:53:49 GMT

December 19, 2007

I saw this great advice from Female Facts http://www.maddoxsmye.com/ff/ff.cfm?fact=136&u=173546 and couldn't wait to share it with you! As we head into the final countdown before the Big Day, these few ideas may actually help you make this the BEST Holiday Season ever! We hope so anyway...Best wishes from Melissa at Woman-Centric Matters!

Blue Genes?

Holiday blues. That's what overcame her. Happy, well adjusted people experience this phenomenon. It used to be that at this time of year, everyone was imbued with the festive, holiday spirit. Of course, that was before people trampled each other in pre-dawn hours to grab bargains in big-box stores, worked 70-hour workweeks, and their kids sabotaged their moods screaming "Wiiiiiii" rather than "wheee!"

Horror! Did we say kids sabotage cheery moods? We should be channeling Norman Rockwell images in our minds, but the fact is, people who don't have children have less holiday depression than parents. If you're a parent, we know you understand...your kids don't want just any toy. It's a specific toy, probably expensive, brand-name, electronic, and is sold out in every store on the Planet. Enough said.

The biggest cause of holiday blues, though, (and we're not talking clinical depression but temporary stress, fatigue, or mild sadness associated with this time of year) is expectation. You expect to have a great time at the office party, but it's a bust, and you feel let down. You hear a beloved carol from childhood in your car as you're driving home, you start to sing along, and you choke up. Christmas present has never quite measured up to your memories of Christmas past. That's holiday blues.

Women are susceptible, but please, this isn't "female sentimentality"! As if working and caretaking (both kids and the elderly) aren't enough to cause stress, women take on the majority of holiday planning, including decorating, shopping, baking/cooking, wrapping, card-writing, etc. They stuff all this into their already-overscheduled agenda. And money problems affect men and women, as do family issues. Men, in fact, suffer more over the loss of a loved one at this time. And for both, an obnoxious family member can make the holidays miserable ("I know you love your uncle, but he's eating everything in the frig...") So, how do you cope?

"Escaping" to work and its routine can actually help. You can share your emotions with a trusted friend or colleague. As for expectations, make them reasonable—think about it: does everything have to be perfect? Do your best and be satisfied, and don't accept responsibilities you can't handle. Say "no." Then, ten things you can do to minimize the holiday blues:

1. eat normally and regularly

2. get plenty of sleep

3. exercise regularly

4. organize your time, make lists, and prioritize

5. make a budget, stick to it, and don't go into debt

6. let go of the past

7. allow time 15 min. a day, for yourself

8. limit alcohol consumption

9. focus not on what you don't have but on positives

10. spend time with people who care about you; or volunteer, do something for others

If you're blues-free, count your blessings and be compassionate with a not-so-lucky colleague. Remember that family dynamics are pretty complicated, and this is the most stressful time of the year. You might suggest a brisk walk after work, (better than a stiff drink), or offer to answer the phone, giving your colleague that much-needed 15 minutes of quiet time. Remember, there's no proof of a blue gene, which means you're not immune. Next year, your house guest could be eating everything in the frig, and you could find yourself with a bad case of the holiday blues.

Sources: "Holiday Blues are Common, but can be Eased, Experts Report," Newswise Social and Behavioral Sciences News, Middle Tennessee State University, 11/20/06. "What are Holiday Blues?" "Do's and Don'ts to Manage Holiday Blues," University of Maryland Medical Center. "How to Not Let Holiday Blues Color Your Job: Seasonal Depression and Anxiety can Seriously Affect Job Performance," MSNBC.com, Eve Tahmincioglu, 12/16/07. "Feeling the Holiday Blues? You Must have Children: Study Finds Parenthood Does Not Make People Happier," ConsumerAffairs.com, 12/22/05.

Women: Lucrative Customer Segment

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:03:55 GMT

December 11, 2007

A recent article in Maine Today (http://business.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=153263&ac=PHbiz) confirms what we here at Woman-Centric Matters have been saying all along: women are one of the most lucrative consumer segments in the country, particularly those beyond the age the marketers seem to think are best -the hard-to-reach 18-34 year old demographic. Continued research by a variety of sources shows that the Boomers and those about 10 years before are savvy, active, health and affluent. They know what they want and they have the smarts and the money to go after it. The question is: Do companies have the smarts to recognize this under-served market and give them what they want they WAY they want it?

What do they want? Respect (don't EVER talk down to her!). Credible opinions from others (trustworthy word of mouth, family, friends, coworkers). Information (benefits to her AND others – not just “me”, but also “we perspective, how-to, differences). Service (pay attention to her! ...including looking her in the eye, taking time to anticipate and answer her questions in non-jargon terms, providing clean restrooms – indeed, clean everything). Time (don't rush her – don't come on strong to close the sale, maintain your patience and absolute credibility – if she trusts you, she'll be your customer for life AND tell others).

What's important to YOU when you shop? Let us know!

BECOME REMARKABLE!!

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:49:16 GMT

Want to learn more about the wherefore and whys of the Woman-Centric Matters (sm) approach to doing business? Upcoming Think Tanks for homebuilders are scheduled for the following dates:

January 17 - 18, 2008 Omaha, NE

January 24 - 25, 2008 Hershey, PA

February 28 - 29, 2008 Omaha, NE

March 14, 2008 Chicago, IL

March 27 - 28, 2008 Omaha, NE

Space is limited, so you MUST call ahead to reserve your seating.

THINK TANKS FOR OTHER INDUSTRIES ARE COMING SOON - DON'T MISS OUT!!
CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION!!

Design Basics, leading experts the nuts and bolts of becoming remarkable by marketing to women: 402-331-9223

Woman-Centric Builders in the News

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:30:14 GMT

November 6, 2007

Our mother company, Design Basics, and two of our Woman-Centric Matters (http://www.womancentricmatters.com) licensees were mentioned in the November 2007 issue of Builder News magazine. The article, titled *Gaining Your Buyer’s Trust and Keeping Her Happy*, makes the statement, “smart builders these days are taking a new approach when it comes to training their sales people”. The article goes on to say that builders who don’t pay attention to the women homebuyers are “going to lose, especially given the current state of affairs in the industry”.

Design Basics (http://www.designbasics.com) is the leading home plan design firm in America. In the Builder News article, Design Basics President, Linda Reimer explains that after inviting female consumers to analyze our floor plans, the team at Design Basics learned that women look at floor plans through four lenses: how the home entertains, how it reduces stress, its flexibility and its storage capacity.

Jerry Standerford, General Manager of Sherwood Homes in Omaha (http://www.sherwoodhomesomaha.com) –one of the first Woman-Centric Matters builders in the country, said in the article that the downturn in the housing market has given him the opportunity to further develop the woman-centric approach. He states that the ringing telephone is a measurable result showing the success of his efforts and Sherwood Homes commitment to the woman-centric way of doing business.

Julie LaTerra of Julie LaTerra Homes (http://www.julielaterrahomes.com) in Charlotte, North Carolina, is another Woman-Centric Matters licensee mentioned in the article. Julie’s woman-centric approach focuses on offering exceptional personal attention to each and every homebuyer and limitless options and incentives. The article quotes Julie, “..the woman-centric approach has really helped us to understand how our clients think..”

To read the complete article, visit: http://www.buildernewsmag.com/viewnews.pl?id=787

FREE Magazine

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:40:21 GMT

November 1, 2007

In addition to teaching businesses how to become remarkable by transforming their business practices based on the female perspective (thus, the Woman-Centric Matters brand), Design Basics also is the largest home plan design firm in America. Our 2008 edition of Spec Build magazine is now available for download - for FREE. To read more about it, including the link to this free publication, please go to: http://womancentricmatters.newsvine.com/_news/2007/10/31/1063302-lifestyle-plan-package-debuts-in-2008-spec-build-magazine

or go directly to the Design Basics website http://www.DesignBasics.com

Vitamins, Minerals and Chocoates - Oh My!

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:09:05 GMT

October 26, 2007

According to a new survey from food giant ConAgra, 51 percent of women count on fortified foods to get their essential nutrients and more than a third would also like to get these from indulgent foods like chocolate.

Personally, I would prefer to get ALL my nutrients from chocolate. But I’ve tried – so far, it hasn’t worked. Maybe Swiss Miss will be my saving grace. ConAgra is targeting women by expanding its Swiss Miss line of hot chocolates to include functional offerings, saying these products tap into the needs of this important – and lucrative- consumer group.

The new beverage offerings include Swiss Miss Pick-Me-Up cocoa swirls, which ConAgra says have as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, as well as the same amount of calcium and vitamin D as a glass of milk. The food manufacturing giant also says Swiss Miss Great Start cocoa is enriched with 15 essential vitamins and minerals.

Additional survey findings from ConAgra include:

-- Almost seven in 10 (69 percent) of women 25-44 consume caffeine at least once a day
-- 40 percent of women consume caffeine more than once a day.
-- Almost all women (95 percent) consume caffeine at least occasionally.
-- 37 percent of women look to caffeine for those mid-morning and mid-afternoon lulls in between meals when they need a pick me up.
-- Most women have caffeine before lunch -- 41 percent when first awakening, another 20 percent mid-morning.
-- Women want their caffeinated beverages to be low-cal and sweet. 70 percent say the ideal caffeinated product has to be low in calories and the majority (56 percent) want it to be sweet.

-- More than half (54 percent) of women 25-44 say they don't get enough
vitamins and minerals from the foods they eat.
-- Women look to fortified foods to get the essential nutrients their
diets lack (51 percent).
-- More than a third (35 percent) said they would like to get their
essential nutrients from "indulgent" foods.

-- Chocolate is the sweet that women crave most (68 percent); more than ice cream (48 percent), followed by cookies (40 percent), candy (33 percent) and cake (31 percent).
-- Moods affect women's cravings for chocolate. 67 percent of respondents said stress drives cravings, followed by "experiencing PMS" (59 percent) and "need a pick-me-up" (58 percent).

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-23-2007/0004687892&EDATE=

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=80858-conagra-swiss-miss-chocolate

MEDIA ALERT

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 20:49:30 GMT

INNOVATIVE “WOMAN-CENTRIC” HOMES HELP BUILDERS THRIVE
Research shows women make 91% of the decisions when it comes to new home purchases.

OMAHA, NE (October 10, 2007) - While the media is reporting challenges with the housing market and home builders who can no longer get rid of their inventory, some builders are not only surviving the crunch but thriving. What's their secret? Building homes that people actually want to live in - designed from a “woman-centric” perspective.

It is no secret that 91 percent of all new home purchases are either made by women or primarily influenced by them (Smith-Dahmer, 2006 IBS), and nearly 85 percent of ALL consumer purchases are either made by or primarily influenced by women (Business Week). The brainchild of Design Basics of Omaha, NE, the largest home plan design firm in America, Woman-Centric Matters(sm) is a unique, innovative licensing and educational platform that teaches home builders and businesses from other industries how to become remarkable by transforming their businesses to consider “her” perspective. Utilizing unique woman-centric floor plans, specialized customer service training, evocative signage, website design and other focused woman-centric techniques researched and developed by Design Basics, nearly 70 homebuilders in 27 states have become Woman-Centric Matters licensees since the program’s inception in 2006. And as their competitors are feeling the effects of the historic housing bust, Woman-Centric builders have success stories to report.

Denny Lenth, a homebuilder in Cedar Falls, Iowa says, “Typically, at this time of year, with winter approaching, we see things slow down a bit. But, I am currently building several custom homes and a couple of specs.” Lenth continues, “Our market has been slow, so building a $600,000 spec home was a big risk. It was also our first woman-centric home. It sold the first day of the Parade of Homes at full asking price!”

Ted Schieler, General Manager of Schieler & Rassi Quality Builders in Peoria, Illinois, reports, “We became a Woman Centric Builder in the fall of 2006 and showcased 13 new Woman-Centric floor plans and our very first Woman-Centric Model Home in the 2007 Peoria, IL, Spring Home Show. We had 20,000 visitors to our model that 3-day weekend in February, and the response to the Woman-Centric concept has been overwhelming.” Schieler continues, “Prospective clients walk through our model and at every turn say ‘WOW, this is what I want!’” When asked about how his business has fared during the current housing challenges, Schieler responded, “The down market that the area has had in 2007 hasn’t affected us at all. In fact, we have had the best year ever, by far. We owe it all to the Woman-Centric concept; it really hits home what home buyers truly want in a home. This whole approach to marketing and selling new homes has given our business a tremendous edge and helped us capture more buyers in a down market.”

H&S Covenant Homes, a custom home builder based in Kansas City, proudly unveiled its first Woman-Centric concept home in Overland Park, Kansas, in September of 2007. The opening of the home occurred in conjunction with the Fall Parade of Homes sponsored by the Kansas City Home Builders Association. John Menghini, Jr., Vice President of Sales and Marketing at H&S Covenant Homes, says, “Over the past year, H&S Covenant Homes, like many builders around the country, has experienced a significant slow-down in the sale of our homes. Rather than hoping and waiting for a turnaround in the housing market, we decided to take a more proactive approach and seek out opportunities to differentiate ourselves from our competition. We concluded that even in a down market there was business to be had.”

Menghini continues, “Our partnership with Design Basics and our participation in the Woman-Centric initiative has not only produced new interest in our homes, but it has given us a renewed excitement about the home building business. We have wonderful new home plans which the market is responding to in an incredibly positive manner. In just three short weeks, we have secured two new custom build-jobs from just one new Woman-Centric home plan. We were pleasantly surprised by the traction generated by Woman-Centric, but it is without a doubt directly related to the thoughtful planning and sensitivity that goes into this innovative approach to building new homes.”

Design Basics’ Woman-Centric home plans and successful business strategy have even prompted new builders to enter the market, in spite of the economic conditions. Reflection Homes of Northeastern Ohio and Melder & Company of Western Pennsylvania have both entered the homebuilding market this past year specifically because they believe in the strength and viability of the Woman-Centric approach. Bunny Dennison, Vice President of Reflection Homes, says, “We definitely believe that our phone is ringing because we have embraced the Woman-Centric concept. It’s not just about the home design, it’s about the entire process. Everyone we are coming in contact with is delighted with the concept – our customers and suppliers, both male and female – they all love it. From our sign design, billboards, brochures, web-site, home plan designs, all the way to the way we treat each person --even the beautiful yellow mums planted at each one of our signs, people not only see the difference but feel it. It’s fresh, and it’s a new level of sensitive attention that home buyers have been seeking for so long.”

Woman-centric homes intuitively appeal to women, according to Linda Reimer, President of Design Basics. “Because of the livability of woman-centric homes, the homes are popular with men, too. From both an economic and a design standpoint, builders just can’t afford to continue offering the same old home designs. You have to look at a design through the lens of ‘how does the home live?’ because that’s the way women view a home,” said Reimer. These days especially both men and women are looking for real and lasting value in a home, a place they can truly call home, a place that fits their unique needs and lifestyle. That's what woman-centric homebuilders are offering, and that's why they're succeeding. “

Note to media professionals:
To easily obtain contact information for individual builders mentioned in this media alert, please contact M. Arnold at Design Basics. 402-331-9223

About Design Basics:

Design Basics, the nation's largest home plan design service to the building industry, designs and markets plans for single-family homes through catalogs, newsstand magazines and home building industry publications. http://www.designbasics.com

Divisions of Design Basics include:

Woman-Centric Matters: a unique licensing program and educational platform that teaches businesses how to become remarkable by transforming their attitudes and practices based on the woman’s perspective. http://www.womancentricmatters.com

Quanta Basics: A proven leader in website design with a specialization in woman-centric and Boomer-centric websites, Quanta Basics services include complete website solutions, design, custom development, web site promotion, and internet marketing. http://www.quantabasics.com

Her Home magazine: Published quarterly, Her Home magazine covers the trends and issues that are shaping the world of homebuilding and home improvement projects. Readers know that in every issue they will find insightful writing, beautiful photography, solid reporting and the magazine's knack for knowing what's around the corner. http://www.herhome.com

Boomer-Centric Marketing: An extension of Woman-Centric Matters, Boomer Centric Marketing recognizes that although there are vast differences among these women, key similarities have guided the core principles of Design Basics, as we have created home plans, think tanks and marketing that works! http://www.boomercentric.com

Good day for news

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:22:37 GMT

September 24, 2007

Akron, Ohio, area builder, Reflection Homes – an exclusive Woman-Centric homebuilder serving the 9 counties of Northeast Ohio, has made the news. Leader Publications is reporting at http://www.akron.com/20070920/ssl19.asp about the innovative approach to home design. Way to go, Reflection Homes! Check out their newly-launched website at http://www.herreflectionhomes.com The site isn’t completed yet, but they have some good magazine articles on there, and more good stuff to come.

Women Are Teed Off: More Women Are At Home on the Range

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:45:30 GMT

September 20, 2007

When you think of golf what comes to mind? Blue skies, green courses, sand traps and men spending an afternoon in the sun? Well Lexus just shattered that stereotype with their recent study released on June 26.

Women are spending an average of five hours on the driving range verses men who are spending four.

What has gotten women so teed off? Women are driven to improve their game and increase networking opportunities while playing the sport. Lexus says 27% of the women surveyed said they would rather have a perfect swing than a perfect marriage!

But this important news does not just have the golfing industry taking notice. Automobile makers, fashion designers and sports equipment companies are also stepping up to provide new products designed for women.

Do you agree with the 52% of the women surveyed that a car should have plenty of trunk space for things like golf clubs and accessories?

http://www.autospectator.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=10238

CNN says 1/2 of Americans are LOSERS

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:39:21 GMT

September 14, 2007

Pay attention to how often you pull a buck out of your pocket this weekend!

According to a report on CNN, nearly half of Americans lose track of how they spend their pocket money. We’re not talking about just nickels and dimes either. The average amount lost is $2,000 a year.

CNN says the results of a recent survey show that men tend to lose track of their spending on nights out while women’s cash vanishes during shopping trips. The survey also shows that the under 34 crowd are the biggest *losers*.

Do you keep track of the cash in your pocket?

To read the CNN story, visit: http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/13/news/cash/

Hottest Trends? Ask Moms

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:48:38 GMT

September 11, 2007

Who’s Knows What the Hottest Trends Are? Ask Moms!

Fed up with websites that tailor themselves to only one type of mom (either working or stay at home), two Philadelphia moms took on the challenge of creating one site that caters to all types of moms.

Joani Reisen and Erica Rubach created www.momspace.com to connect all types of moms across the country with the resources they need. With areas like “focus group mom” and social event planning, mothers of all ages can take advantage of one stop shopping for whatever they need at the moment.

“Moms trust other moms” said Reisen, the mother of a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old.

With women making more than 80% of the purchasing decisions within their homes, it is vital that they receive feedback on products, services and events that will affect their lives.

To see how www.momspace.com can work for you, check out the ABC news article in the link below.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/SpecialSeries/story?id=3313490&page=1

Blogger News

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:24:41 GMT

Sept 4, 2007

Nearly 14 percent of men versus 20 percent of women have blogs, Synovate eNation reports in an exclusive Marketing Daily study. The good news for bloggers of both sexes is that the study also shows that eight out of 10 Americans know what a blog is and almost half have visited the blogosphere – nearly 15 percent as often as daily.

With nearly 100 million blogs available, according to Technorati, it’s no surprise that 54.4 percent of blog readers like to read several different sites rather than remain loyal to the same blogs. Not unlike life outside the blogosphere, men tend to be more commitment-phobic in their blog reading habits. Nearly 60 percent of the fellas surf around with a variety of blogs, with only 50 percent of the gals surfing around.

To read more about the study, visit http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=66471&Nid=33725&p=405800

Black is Beautiful

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:57:28 GMT

Percentage of black women who are concerned about the way they're portrayed in popular media: 77

Percentage of black women who say they're portrayed worse than any other racial group in media: 71

Percentage of black women who believe black teens are portrayed worse than other racial groups in media: 69

How much an average black woman spends on beauty products compared with the average woman overall: 3 times

Sources: Procter and Gamble Co. and Essence poll

These impressive numbers are, in part, why Procter and Gamble has started their new marketing initiative “My Black is Beautiful”. The marketing push is aimed at black women of various skin tones and origins. The brainchild of Najoh Tita Reid, multicultural marketing director for Procter and Gamble, the program was seeded in her heart when she was a little girl and a white playmate told her that she and her black doll were ugly.

Multicultural sensitivity is nothing new to Procter and Gamble. They were the first and biggest sponsor to pull the plug on Don Imus in April after his infamous on-air slurs.

To read more about “My Black is Beautiful” and Ms. Reid’s involvement in the program, visit http://adage.com/article?article_id=120091

Mom's Online

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:45:40 GMT

August 21, 2007

DoubleClick Performics (www.performics.com), the performance marketing division of DoubleClick Inc., today unveiled data resulting from a search usage study targeting the “moms” segment and completed in cooperation with Microsoft and ROI Research, “Searcher Moms – A Search Behavior and Usage Study.” The data illustrate heavy search engine usage in support of online purchases, offline purchases, coordinating travel and many other planning activities among moms.

Of the nearly 1,000 moms surveyed, 89 percent use the Internet at least twice/day, and 90 percent have been using it for more than seven years. A whopping 86 percent of respondents said search engines are the most efficient way to find information.

Other interesting findings of the study include:

* 70 percent use search engines to gather information before making any online purchase
* 57 percent use search engines to gather information before making any offline purchase
* 64 percent use search engines to find out where to purchase products offline

With regard to purchases made in the eight product categories included in the study:

-- 92 percent said search engines were helpful in providing
valuable information prior to purchasing
-- 79 percent said search engines were helpful in providing
valuable information prior to purchasing offline specifically

Regarding consumer packaged goods, respondents reported using search engines:

-- To compare prices (72 percent)
-- To find retail locations (71 percent)
-- To gather product information (71 percent)

Plans?

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:24:17 GMT

What are you doing this weekend? I'm going to go visit my 78 year old mother and tell her I love her. Remember - today is the best day ever to tell those who matter to you that you care about them!

Be safe and have a wonderful weekend! ...Melissa @ Woman-Centric Matters

Taking the Step in the Right Direction – More Women Competing in Triathlons

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:20:14 GMT

http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/223571.html

Women of all ages are getting serious about their health and taking a step in the right direction. 35% of all triathlon participants are women, up 10% in the last decade with the fastest growing segment being 35-45 year olds.
What drives these women to participate in these lengthy, endurance sport events?

Participation by women in Ironman has doubled in the U.S. in the past five years,” says Blair LaHaye, a spokeswoman for Ironman and Iron Girl. “So many women want to try something new but aren’t seasoned to compete in a full Ironman. Iron Girl is a competitive platform for beginning athletes” with shorter courses or just two, instead of three, disciplines.

In addition to being female-friendly, these events are distinguished by their wide range of participants: The winner of the Danskin triathlon in Austin was 14, while the oldest competitor was 79.

Would you participate in a triathlon or endurance event? Let us know your thoughts on this and other female sporting events.

Graduate Assistance: Families Supporting Children after College Graduation

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:54:39 GMT

Graduating high school and college is a right of passage that many children and parents go through every year.

But the latest Nielsen Company survey says that passage is not as bumpy as it has been in the past. Over one quarter of Boomer parents with children 18 years and older financially help out their children past graduation.

This is how the average $1000 is broken down:

60% goes to groceries
47% housing/rent
46% car/transportation
41% clothes
37% medical expenses

Moms 45-54 were twice as likely as other female heads of households to hand over money.

Do you plan to help your children after college or did your parents help you? Let us know your story today!

http://sev.prenewsire.com/publishing-information-services/200731/AQTH15531052007-1.html

Trend Watching

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:46:01 GMT

August 2, 2007

Design Basics and our Woman-Centric home plans are in the news again! This time we've caught the attention of the latest edition of trendwatching.com. To read the whole article, go to http://www.trendwatching.com/trends/femalefever.htm