Gay and Lesbian Consumers Gateway to Post-recession Business Success

The expanding gay and lesbian population is providing marketers the opportunity to pick up some post-recession business, a new market research study from Packaged Facts says. The study, titled The Gay and Lesbian Market in the U.S., shows that today's 15.7 million gay and lesbian consumers are more optimistic than other consumers about the overall direction of the country, future economic growth, the job market and their own personal financial condition. This basic sense of optimism prevailing among gay and lesbian consumers suggests that they are more willing than other consumers to spend on products and services in the wake of the most severe economic downturn in 70 years.

The report currently estimates the purchasing power of gay and lesbian consumers at $743 billion but is expecting this market to grow 23% to $900 billion as the population grows to 16.4 million in 2014.Retailers in major metropolitan areas, such as New York, will see much of this good fortune due to higher number of gays and lesbians living in the area. For example, New York currently ranks first among the top fifteen gay and lesbian metro areas and claims $52 billion of this cohort's disposable income.

Metropolitan or otherwise, marketers will be interested to know that when deciding whether to stick or switch from a product or service, gay and lesbian consumers are highly alert to the perceived gay-friendliness of companies. Survey data from the report shows 32% gay men and 25% of lesbians have switched products or service providers because they found a competing company that supports causes that benefit the LGBT community. Furthermore, nearly 60% in this cohort report being 'more likely' to purchase everyday household products and services from companies that market directly to gays and lesbians.

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Weight Management Trends in the U.S.

Almost 70% of adults and almost 32% of school-age children and adolescents are either overweight or obese, according to the latest government statistics. And some studies project that if current trends continue, 37% of U.S. adults will be classified as obese by 2013 and 43% by 2018.

With such new and ever-more-alarming statistics about adult and childhood obesity feeding the headlines almost daily;

--What are today’s weight loss regimens and weight maintenance mindsets?

--What roles do calories, portion control, and satiety play, with or without the benefit of weight management programs, fitness club memberships and “active lifestyles”?

--What are the most salient cohorts of weight management consumers, and which combinations of foods and beverages, weight management programs, and diet aids appeal most specifically to them?

--Which media and marketing messages resonate for these cohorts, and in what contexts?

This all-new report from Packaged Facts examines not just who the weight management cohorts are, but the all-important “why’s” behind the choices and purchases they make, and where those choices will take the market through 2015. The report also examines the competitive strategies of key players, new product and ingredient trends, and marketing and advertising positioning, all within the context of the medical, social, economic, and psychographic drivers of consumer behavior.

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