Don’t even think about calling me a senior.
This sediment is shared by millions of young baby boomers everywhere. While official boomers (over 76 million of us) were born between 1946-1964, I’m so not ready to hear that term, if fact it really freaks me out.
I know I’m not alone. And smart marketers understand that there is a new generation of boomers, just like me.
Don’t call me a senior, and don’t even remind me that I’m aging, even if I am like a nice bottle of Merlot.
I prefer something more like a middle-aged person or how about no reference to age at all, that’s even better. That’s not a lie, 51 is the middle of 100. A lot of people live that long.
So why a blog about this?
My birthday is next week. On Feb. 12th I will be 51. Ole Abe and I share the day, although he is a real senior at 201.
I don’t feel 51 and I live a pretty young lifestyle, I play tennis 4 times a week, I watch music videos, shop at Forever 21 and occasionally drink really cheap wine.
Today, the Wall Street Journal did a story on retooling boomer marketing and it caught my attention.
The premise was there are seniors like my mom, who are cool with that Senior marketing stuff. I suppose when you hit 75, it’s like a merit badge and senior discounts are a bonus. But for people like me, marketers better be very sensitive with how they speak to me, or I’m not buying their products.
As a young boomer, I’m famously demanding, independent and rebellious. I’m health-conscious, I text daily, tweet sometimes hourly, don’t have gray hair (thank you Clairol®) and my eyes were bad when I was 30.
So marketers, please don’t use models that look like my parents to get my attention, don’t assume I won’t try new things and do know that I’m fit, not fat and child proof containers always pissed me off.
And AARP, I have enough magazines, so why not save a tree and your postage and just chill for a few years.
Posted in: Marketing


