Mature Market Experts Stat of The Day: Presciption Drugs

The mature market consumes a disproportionately large share of both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. American seniors age 65 and older constitute only 13 percent of the U.S. population yet account for 30 percent of all prescription drugs and 25% of all OTC drugs purchased.
Source: AARP - The Policy Book, 2004

 
Chart: Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. 

Mature Market Experts Stat of The Day: Volunteering

I have long believed that the mature market is one of our countries most under-utilized resources. Here’s a few statistics that back me up:
Mature Americans age 55 and older contributed between $97.6 billion and $201 billion to society in 2002 through volunteer activities and time spent caring for family members. Our best estimate, based [...]

Mature Market Experts Stat of The Day: Education

Comments about how educated the mature market is in the U.S. are often misleading:
About 30 percent of Americans aged 55 to 59 hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. And this rate drops as the population ages. Among those aged 60 to 69, 25 percent hold at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with only 18 percent [...]

Mature Market Stat of The Day: Reverse Mortgages

For some seniors reverse mortgages can be a very valuable tool to preserving health and dignity.

According to the Federal Reserve, seniors 62 and older account for $4.3 trillion in home equity out of the nation’s total of $11 trillion.
 
In recent years, reverse mortgages for the mature market have grown from a small demonstration program to [...]

Mature Market Experts Stat of The Day: Aging and Vision

Today, I’m posting about something near and dear to my heart . . . vision. You see, my Dad has macular degeneration, so I’ve seen the impact it can have on a person’s life. Sadly, this condition has rendered him close to blind.
 
Understanding loss of vision and its impact is a key to success [...]

Mature Market Experts Stat of The Day: Anti-Aging Products

Boomers, unwilling to give up their youth, are pouring $30 billion a year into anti-aging products. An AARP survey found that 35% of the mature market have tried anti-aging cosmetics and that 53% of seniors use hair color to hide the gray. It is estimated that in the next three years, anti-aging will be a [...]

50+ New England Lunch Event, Wednesday, August 13, 2008

50+ New England Lunch Event, Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Enjoy the benefits of discovering new resources, discussing best practices for sales and marketing, and of networking with the region’s 50+ housing industry pros.
Join the 50+ Housing Council for our next lunch event, hosted by
Brendon Homes at the award-winning Adams Farm community in Shrewsbury, MA.
 
Brendon [...]

Mature Market Stat of The Day: Seniors Spend More Money on Travel Than Any Other Age Group

The mature market likes to travel more often and at a higher level of luxury than any other market segment. Seniors represent 80% of all luxury travel purchased in the U.S., make up 65% of all cruise passengers and typically spend 74% more on vacations than the 18-49 year old population segment.
Source: Mature Market Facts, [...]

Mature Market Experts Stat of The Day: Fashion

Boomers spent an estimated $42.7 billion on apparel in 2004. But they don’t wear the same sizes they wore at age 18. Clothing stores are opening across the U.S. that specialize in great-looking apparel for the mature market –clothing that has verve as well as elastic waistbands.
Source: Tapping the Boomer Marketplace, by Mary Furlong, 2007

 

“The [...]

Don’t let efficiency kill the brand

Fellow Mature Market Experts blogger Dan Rexford wrote about Lou Carbone’s book, Clued In, several weeks ago . . . well, here’s another recent article about Mr. Carbone that you might find interesting. The article raises some great points about an unhealthy fixation on efficiency — at the cost of the customer’s brand experience.
Most of [...]