Adam begat Noah. Noah begat, Ham and his brothers. Ham begat Cush and his brothers. Cush begat Bantu and their brothers. Bantu begat Southern Africa, Zimbabwe, and his brothers. Knowledge of where we have come from and our ancestors’ behaviour helps us understand our present and future behaviour. To understand any market, economy, or nation, one ought to know their generations. African nations are very interesting in that they have unique generations, having pre and post liberation generations.
Zimbabwe currently has four distinct generations, with the oldest being those born in the 1920s and 30s– called the Generation Governors. The second are those born in the 1940s to 60s – the called the Generation Rebolution. The third are those born in the 1970s to 80s – called the Generation Mendependent. And lastly the fourth are those born in the 1990s – Generation MoverLOAD.
In the US, marketers take time to study their generations, and deploy marketing strategies according to these generations. The most popular generations are the “Baby Boomers” – those born after the Great Depression, and the current Generation of children – named Tweens by Martin Lindstrom in his book Brand Child.
Zimbabwean Marketers have to understand where their market came from, and why they behave as they do.
Showing posts with label Generations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Generations. Show all posts
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
Monday, 17 March 2008
The Age of Recovery, in Zimbabwe
There is a time coming in Zimbabwe called the Age of Recovery. In this time all businesses will be recovering from destruction and deterioration of commercial activity. Consumers will have to be emotionally convinced to consumer certain brands in this age of recovery, as they would have suffered much abuse in this destructive age of depression.
During the Great Depression of America, there are certain brands that maximised profits from the little products and low quality they produced, at the expense of future business. On the other hand there are those few companies like Ford, and Kelloggs, which put the customer and quality first during these times, who are enjoying market dominance even until now.
Zimbabwean Scenario
Zimbabwean companies forget that there will be a time of recovery, and during those times of recovery consumers will be loyal to brands that were "kind", and "loving" to them. Consumers are just as emotional as brands are during times of economic recessions, or depression as some would like to term of situation.
"Studies have demonstrated that during times of recession,companies that maintain advertising during these periods experiencehigher sales and profits during the downturns and afterward thancompanies who cut their advertising budgets." quoted one consultant on Google Answers. The time of recovery is inevitable, and only those involved in the lives of consumers will lead the race of profit during recovery.
Consumer Abuse
Some Zimbabwean businesses are forgeting that the customer will never change their position - being customer. A customer will always be a customer, as long as this world exists. I have seen in many outlets and businesses where customers are being illtreated as though tomorrow will never come. Food outlets, ISPs, Supermarkets, and the like are treating customers as though they were forced to start up the business by them. In the Age of Recovery, these companies will face much competition, especially from better entrance with "loving" attitudes toward customers.
During the Great Depression of America, there are certain brands that maximised profits from the little products and low quality they produced, at the expense of future business. On the other hand there are those few companies like Ford, and Kelloggs, which put the customer and quality first during these times, who are enjoying market dominance even until now.
Zimbabwean Scenario
Zimbabwean companies forget that there will be a time of recovery, and during those times of recovery consumers will be loyal to brands that were "kind", and "loving" to them. Consumers are just as emotional as brands are during times of economic recessions, or depression as some would like to term of situation.
"Studies have demonstrated that during times of recession,companies that maintain advertising during these periods experiencehigher sales and profits during the downturns and afterward thancompanies who cut their advertising budgets." quoted one consultant on Google Answers. The time of recovery is inevitable, and only those involved in the lives of consumers will lead the race of profit during recovery.
Consumer Abuse
Some Zimbabwean businesses are forgeting that the customer will never change their position - being customer. A customer will always be a customer, as long as this world exists. I have seen in many outlets and businesses where customers are being illtreated as though tomorrow will never come. Food outlets, ISPs, Supermarkets, and the like are treating customers as though they were forced to start up the business by them. In the Age of Recovery, these companies will face much competition, especially from better entrance with "loving" attitudes toward customers.
Monday, 18 June 2007
GenerationXtremes
Marketing success or failure in the 21st century can be attributed to the level of understanding Marketers have on the current generation, which has a strong hold over buying decision making within families, enterprises, institutions, communities, and various relationships.
The child, teen, and young adult of nowadays holds an enormous chunk of buying decision making in relationships around him or her. This generation is nothing like the previous ones. This generation has only one extra attribute from the others, i.e. EXTREME, in every aspect of their lives. Thoughts, Conduct, Knowledge, and Resources are all Xtreme ™. There are few Marketers who are benefiting from this generation, whilst others are holding onto the fading 20th century generations. It should not be like this.
The child, teen, and young adult of nowadays holds an enormous chunk of buying decision making in relationships around him or her. This generation is nothing like the previous ones. This generation has only one extra attribute from the others, i.e. EXTREME, in every aspect of their lives. Thoughts, Conduct, Knowledge, and Resources are all Xtreme ™. There are few Marketers who are benefiting from this generation, whilst others are holding onto the fading 20th century generations. It should not be like this.
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