Learned On | gender, consumer behavior and sustainability

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Hogwarts are to Millennials as Pink is to Women

But they’re trying too hard.  They’re selling the wrong thing. And my friends and I won’t be fooled. – Lauren Edelson, in The New York Times, December 6, 2009

This young woman was not writing about a pink, “for women” ad campaign, but she so well could have … Read on >

Busted! The Surcharge for “Women’s” Product Versions

Nothing like an article in Psychology Today to put something into perspective.  Some brands charge more for products they can pitch as “for women.” As consumers, women have always sensed this to be the case, but the article’s author, William Poundstone, lays it all out for us – almost … Read on >

Gender-Focused Marketing Worst Practice? Beds “For Men”

Bad examples are often the best teachers.  Beds specifically designed for men, and all the stereotypes and cliches that implies, may serve just such a purpose.  To me, this bizarre new trend in “marketing to men” wins the worst case gender-focused prize of the year (so far).  The story and … Read on >

Making Pink October Really Matter for Breast Cancer

Here we go.  It’s just about that time of year again where everyone and their brother pull out the pink wash, spray it on a single product and push it out to the masses with a big to-do, as in: “look how great our ’cause marketing’ is, ladies!”  I … Read on >

Getting Around Gender In Marketing to Women

Do you know how rules and regulations, or self-imposed parameters for a project, tend to make for more creative and effective results?  Well, in my mind, the same goes for marketing to women.  What if you were forced by a state law not to be obviously gender-specific in your marketing … Read on >

NYT Blog & MP Daily Fix: Marketing to Women, Della Style

I’m quoted in Jenna Wortham’s New York Times blog post, on the Dell/Della brand’s marketing to women efforts.  A snippet of my take:

Finding the right approach for gender-specific marketing can be really tricky.  Some brands go too far with the girlie stuff, and that’s when they start … Read on >

Pro Women’s Golf: How To Reach A Mainly Male Audience

It is no surprise that the pro golf industry is desperately seeking sponsors in this economy.  But, there may be a clue to help that situation hidden in the profile of the typical golf fan.  Consider this fact, from Carl Prine’s recent Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article:

The typical follower … Read on >

Slate’s Double X: Will Women, AND Men, Still Engage?

Slate’s XX Factor blog has become Double X (as announced in November, 2008).  A recent Ad Age article about the growth of women’s online networks written by Marissa Miley quotes Slate’s publisher, John Alderman, on the why/how of that change:

“We are doing what hasn’t been … Read on >

Define Female-Friendly

What an industry or brand thinks is “female-friendly” and what really is, may be two different things.  When we read about a company that is what I’ll now call “ff,” it’s mainly that they proclaimed themselves so, or held all-women promotional events, or were the first to show women, front … Read on >

Don’t Think Blue: Gender Assumptions Work Both Ways

Because I have so often written about/presented on the ideas in my book Don’t Think Pink, I’ve found that the easiest way to illustrate the book’s key concept, transparent marketing, for (often and mainly) male audiences tends to be … Read on >

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