If you were born between the years of 1946 – 1964, you fall into, not only the largest segment of our population, you are a part of the most influential group as well. Over 75 million people, in the United States, make up this hugely powerful and major impacting group. Following business trends and how they are affected, one looks to the Baby Boomers, so where are they now and what are they doing?
And it continues even today. Some Economists claim that this group just followed trends. Most others state that the Baby Boomers not only impacted every industry that they chose, but also created a solution when a need arose. This started, literally from day one and as the first group of Baby Boomers are hitting their mid sixties, they are still changing the economic look of the country and the world.
There were great advances being made in a multitude of industries. New things popped up all the time. The Baby Boomers seemed to going through their lives as one single unit. If the Boomers liked it, it was a hit. If they did not, it failed. But, for the companies that managed to figure that out, successes and billion dollar companies did everything they could to try to keep up with their voracious demands.
Products like the Hula Hoop, the Frisbee, all of the Mattel toys and the Slinky, the dumbest toy in history, especially if you live in a house with no stairs! All of these industries flourished, because of the ongoing demand of the Baby Boomers. And it just got crazier after that. After several bankruptcies, Walt Disney finally figured it out and created Disneyland, millions and millions came and came again, he finally made it. Why? This group determined very early on, that they wanted to do, to see and to have everything. And they did.
Fast food showed up around the same time. Ray Kroc introduced a drive thru restaurant that kind of caught on. McDonalds was an overnight success. It became the local hangout for millions of kids as the food was tasty, the prices were good and it was fast. McDonalds was actually, in many respects, the predecessor to Facebook! This is where you could catch up with all the news and happenings of your town and the Boomers loved it. Burger King, Wendy’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken were quick to capitalize on this trend, as well.
As they got older, the pager industry provided them with a way to stay in touch. It was not perfect, but we all know what it led to, shortly thereafter. The cell provided this aggressive generation a way to get more done throughout the day. They could work on their way to work, work all day and even work some on their way home. It was perfect. Well, almost. If they were going to be productive after they left the office, then they would need an office at home too. Hence, the fax machine. It was an easy way to convey information, send contracts and again get more work done after work, so you have make more money.
Next up, the cell phone industry. Now they had everything. Work going to and from the office and they could get more done. This became the way of life for millions of people. But, one thing that they really did not spend much time thinking about was getting older. This topic was essentially taboo. As children this group was under the impression that they never trust anyone over the age of 30! Now that they slipped past it and barely saw it because they were moving so fast, the thought of having money for their later years, had been overlooked.
A long time ago, while remembering that someone 30 years old, appeared to be ancient, these masses decided that they would not grow old, or if they actually had to, not gracefully. So, hair transplants, Weight loss companies, Skin care companies are all on the rise. So, even today, this generation is having both good and bad influence of the economy. Some researchers are making the claim that because the Boomers are getting at least slightly nervous about aging, that they are not spending as they did in the late 1990’s. Maybe, but others claim that because this group has the most interest in new technology and anything else that seems cool, that they will still spend but they are bored.
It is quite apparent that retiring is not high on the priority list. However, working more for themselves and their families actually is growing. Some of this is economically driven, but it is also because there is a sense of recreating things as they were when the Baby Boomers were just that, Babies. There is a growing movement to try to simplify things a little. Money is still a prime motivator, but more time at home seems fun again. Many of these parents worked so hard that they missed a lot of their children growing up and it has finally sunk in that this was a bad thing. So, more family time. More time with friends. And more time planning for what is next.
Many of this group are actually seeking ways to make life more like it was when they were children. That is kind of an interesting thought. The life that they made for themselves and their families may have been rewarding on many levels, but all in all, controlling your life, instead of your life controlling you, may not be such a bad thing. So, be on the lookout for the 1st Baby Boomer to be running his company at age 120, while working at home, so he can be closer to his family and assure that his/her support system, lift support, that is, stays close by. Some people will just never get it!
Following world trends and how they are affected, one consider Baby Boomers, so where are they now and what are they doing? For one thing purchasing super grand Callaway Golf Bag .
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