Targeting the Older Folks

Peter Drucker is closer to being vindicated. More goods and services are being marketed to consumers 50 years of age and above. The recession has played a role in this as have demographic shifts, but businesses are also finally realizing that the over 50 segment of the population is the wealthiest.

The Oldsters are also tech savvy. Over 50 percent of Kindle owners are 50 years old and above. A piece of interesting anecdotal evidence on Oldsters and technology comes from churches installing the projection screens in the front of the sanctuary to reduce the need for hymnals and readings printed in the bulletin. I've heard that the Oldsters are usually the loudest to object to the screens, but once they are installed they love them because they can see the words better than in the hymnal!