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Published on GoldenTimes.com on December 06, 2006 - 10:16 AM
Make Your Voice Heard! You Deserve It!
By Lynette Loomis

Your family wants to know. Product developers and retailers must be told. What gifts do you want this holiday season? What present will make you roll your eyes in frustration (can you stand one more sweater or tie?) What new gadget has buttons too small to read or touch? What appliance works well and seems friendly even if you’re not a mechanical engineer?

Mature consumers have more money than any other generation yet product developers still seem to target most of their products to younger consumers. It’s a fact of life – most younger consumers have better hearing, vision and manual dexterity than do older consumers. (Their day of diminished senses will come just as ours did.)

But it’s not going to get any better unless mature consumers speak out. We are starting a voluntary research panel – we want your opinions of what “works” for you and what products, services, advertisers or stores aren’t easy (or fun) to use or visit.

Each month I will pose a question. You can send me a postcard with your opinion to Lynette Loomis at: The Marketing Strategists, PO Box 663, Mendon, N.Y. 14506; or e-mail me at: marketingstrategists@rochester.rr.com.

We will collect your opinions and the Golden Times will publish a summary of your ideas, complaints and applause within the next two issues. Your name or address will not be shared with anyone or any business – we are not selling anything – just trying to make life a little easier for those of us between 50 and 105.

Our first questions:

• What gift – product or service – would you like to receive as a gift this year?
• What gift – product or service – do you hope you don’t get and why?

Let’s get the word out. Let me know what you think.