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Strategy Briefing

Age Blurring: How the Breakdown of Age Boundaries Is Affecting Global Consumer Markets

Apr 2011

Price: US$2,600

About this Report

About this Report

As global attitudes on youth, middle-age and the elderly have altered, the traditionally-perceived boundaries of age-appropriate lifestyles, behaviours and preferences are blurring, making it more difficult for marketers to stereotype consumers along the lines of age alone. This new report examines the impact of age compression and age stretching on markets and suggests ways in which marketers can find new ways to identify, communicate and connect with consumers in the future.

What this report includes

  • Top-level strategic analysis of how major consumer trends will influence global markets
  • Consumer insight
  • Impact across all relevant consumer markets
  • Unique graphics and case studies
  • Key market snapshots
  • Accompanying presentation to synthesise main findings
     

Why buy this report

  • Identify factors driving change now and in the future
  • Understand motivation
  • Forward-looking outlook
  • Briefings and presentation should provoke lively discussion at senior level
  • Take a step back from micro trends
  • Get up to date estimates and comment

Delivery format

PDF/Word
Downloadable from MyPages

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Demand Factors

  • Summary 1 Factors Influencing Age Blurring

Consumer Market Trends

  • Chart 1 Global Sales of Selected Products 2005/2010

Outlook

  • Chart 2 Longest Life Expectancies by Country in 2015

INTRODUCTION

Age Compression versus Age Expansion

Generational Groups

Oldest swingers in town

Boomers – the forever young generation

Gen X – the lost generation

Gen Y – the extended adolescents

Gen Z – the net generation

  • Summary 2 Consumer Groups 2010

DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS

  • Table 1 Global Demographic Trends 2005/2010/2015

Falling birth rates

  • Table 2 Birth Rates by Region 2005/2010/2015

Ageing Populations

Increased longevity

Life expectancy greatest in Japan

  • Table 3 Life Expectancy by Country 2005/2010/2015

MARKET DRIVERS

Kids Getting Older Younger

Growing up fast

Technology versus toys

Bowing to pressure

Financial independence

Helicopter parenting

Extended Adolescence

Reluctance to fly the nest

Delaying adulthood

Keeping children close at hand

Student numbers rise ...

... but debts grow

  • Table 4 Number of Higher Education Students by Country 2005/2010

High cost of housing

Rising youth unemployment

  • Table 5 Youth Unemployment by Country 2005/2010

Age Stretching: The New Mid-lifers

Age is just a number

Delaying parenthood

  • Table 6 Average Age of Women at First Childbirth by Country 2005/2010

From cougars to gravers

Boomers: Young at Heart

Turning 65

Big spenders

Still hard at work

Old age recedes ever further

  • Chart 3 How Old Do Baby Boomers Actually Feel?

AOPs

Boomer men: a segment to watch

Health Issues

Self-care declines with age

Baby Boomers fight ageing process

Keeping active

  • Table 7 US Baby Boomers’ Attitudes towards Fitness 2009

Gen Xers complacent about their health

Childhood obesity on the rise

The problem of underage drinking and smoking

Growing Old Gracefully

Could 80 be the new 60?

Community living

Russia lags behind

The Importance of Looking Good

Ageless beauty

Starting early

Teen brands

Segmentation in skin care

Nipping ageing in the bud

Catering to the over-60s

  • Summary 3 Selected Skin Care Products by Age Group 2010

Cosmetic procedures on the rise

Botox reaches the masses

US leads global plastic surgery market

Fillers and breast enlargement reign supreme

  • Table 8 Number of Aesthetic Procedures by Country 2009

Media Influence

Celebrity culture affects young and old

Bieber fever

Older celebs boosting anti-ageing products

Celebrity influence on cosmetic surgery

“Reality” TV

The “Democratisation” of Technology

Bridging the age gap

Internet contributes to age convergence

  • Chart 4 Internet Use in the US by Age Group 2009

Digital natives

Shortening attention spans

Senior surfers

  • Chart 5 Leading Online Activities for People Aged 65+ in the US 2009
  • Chart 6 Leading Online Destinations for People Aged 65+ in the US 2009

Social networking transcends age groups

Audience maturing

  • Table 9 Teenagers’ Social Networking Activities in the US 2006/2007/2009

The Return of Family Entertainment

Cocooning trend boosts TV watching

Increased opportunities for product placement

Gaming: Transcending Generations

Going beyond the core demographic

Older gamers

Northern Europe’s kidults

Virtual worlds offer escape for all ages

The explosion in social gaming

Nostalgia Marketing

Turning back time

Retro toys

CONSUMER MARKET TRENDS

Traditional Toys and Games

A casualty of KGOY

Manufacturers diversify

Toy retailers become concept stores

Building blocks remain popular with parents

Character licensing still a big draw

  • Chart 7 Global Sales of Traditional Toys and Games 2005/2010

Video Games

Providing escapism during hard times

The threat of on-line gaming

  • Chart 8 The Global Market for Video Games 2005/2010

Beauty and Personal Care

The lipstick effect

Lending colour

  • Chart 9 The Global Market for Selected Beauty Products 2005/2010

Health

Preventing age-related ailments

Omegas soar in popularity

Men’s health

  • Table 10 Global Sales of Selected Consumer Health Products 2005/2010

Healthy living trend boosts health and wellness foods

Fountain of youth

  • Chart 10 Global Sales of Health and Wellness 2005/2010

Fashion for All

A challenge for retailers

Concepts for tweens

Hip Gen Xers

Department stores focus on cheap chic for Boomers

  • Chart 11 Global Sales through Clothing and Footwear Specialists 2005/2010

Travel and Tourism

Boomers fuel travel market

Pensioners venture further afield

Mid-lifers crave adventure

Seeking new experiences

  • Summary 4 Characteristics of Adventure Travellers by Age Group

Implications for marketers

Tourism hit by recession

  • Table 11 Global Tourism Statistics 2005/2010

Combining health with leisure

KEY MARKET TRENDS

Brazil

The body beautiful

Teens undergoing surgery

Second adolescence for mid-lifers

  • Table 12 Brazil: Demographic Trends 2005/2010/2015

China

One-child policy takes its toll

Teenagers becoming westernised

Boomers making up for lost time

  • Table 13 China: Demographic Trends 2005/2010/2015

France

Tweens become a focus for marketers

Old, free and single

  • Table 14 France: Demographic Trends 2005/2010/2015

Germany

Older demographic

Emphasis on health

  • Table 15 Germany: Demographic Trends 2005/2010/2015

Italy

The importance of family

Boomer enjoy luxuries

  • Table 16 Italy: Demographic Trends 2005/2010/2015

Japan

Shortage of young people

Parasite singles

Consumers assume the burden of healthcare

  • Table 17 Japan: Demographic Trends 2005/2010/2015

UK

Population getting older

Children mature for their age

Extended adolescence

The “Helen Mirren effect”

Surgery becoming more popular among men

  • Table 18 UK: Demographic Trends 2005/2010/2015

US

Ageless society

Kids growing up quickly ...

... but are remaining children for longer

In search of the Boomer dollar

Cosmetic surgery becomes the norm

  • Table 19 US: Demographic Trends 2005/2010/2015

FUTURE OUTLOOK

Trends to Watch

Age convergence set to continue

Boomerang children may finally flee the nest

Indefinite mid-lifers

Technology to close age gap

Gaming to move on-line

Travelling Boomers

Marketing to the old ...

... and the young

  • Summary 5 Opportunities and Challenges to Marketers

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