Millennials like Sadie Schwarm fascinate me. Sadie is an ambitious young PR professional with a penchant for finding out what makes people tick. Her recent piece for Platform Magazine quotes a study about Creativity in PR | A Global Study that revealed the industry’s investment in creativity is beginning to pay...
Author Archives: Patricia Martin
How Millennials Spend Their Money
Here’s a quick look at spending preferences among Millennials compare to all other consumers. The very first category, rented dwellings, is a stand out. First, it speaks to the steep hikes in rent that most cities have seen in the last two years. For instance, in 2014 the average monthly...
Seeing Millennials Beyond their Profile
Several years ago, a reporter named Maggie contacted me for an interview. She was writing about consumer trends and tracked me down. Maggie and I go way back, having lived in the same part of town, our paths crossed more than once. Lately, Maggie has taken on a project for TRUE,...
BusinessTown’s Satire of Silicon Valley Speak
We love following BusinessTown!, a Tumblr blog devoted to cartoon versions of Silicon Valley stereotypes. Lately it’s been blowing up on the internet. Cleverly illustrated by Lunch Breath, it reimagines the charming characters created by Richard Scarry, the children’s author most well-known for his Busytown series. We see “value-creating winners”...
Courting Millennials with Cultural Capital: 7 Things They Won’t Tell You
I’m excited to present our latest report: Courting Millennials with Cultural Capital: 7 Things Young Early Adopters Won’t Tell You. It’s offers a handy set of best practices for winning the hearts and minds of Millennial mavens. Dig in and learn: • Why young influencers play an even bigger role...
What Millennials Really Want to Know: The Society of Grownups
A few years ago, fellow author Ben Hammersley turned me on to the School of Life, a very successful London-based mecca for life-long learners, mostly Millennials, who want to live up to their potential. With classes selling out months in advance, it appeared the SOL founders had struck two primal...
Consumer data: Amazon Out, Wegmans In
My sister lives in Rochester, New York and over a decade ago she introduced me to the wonders of Wegmans Food Markets. An ordinary shopping trip became a portal into a vibrant world of fresh food, gourmet cooking demos, and commitment to community. It made me want to pick up...
The Superbowl’s Stage Keeps Football Lite
The entertainment slated for this Sunday’s Superbowl makes the total sponsorship package for brands a one-two-punch—sports AND entertainment. The plain truth is that, football could use a facelift, and acts like Katy Perry stand ready to deliver. It’s been a tough year for football in the popular culture. The New...
Gift Ideas
One of the things I love about the holiday season is that we have all agreed that this is the season to be generous. But I’m also welcoming a shift away from the fierce consumerism of years past, toward a kinder, gentler season of giving. In that spirit, I have...