Generation Y, the leading edge of which will come of home-buying age in less than four years, thinks, talks and acts differently, and they have decidedly different preferences in housing. Are you ready for this?
DEFINING GEN-YThe Gen-Y giant is no laughing matter to companies competing for their loyalty. With more earning power and buying clout than any previous generation, Gen-Y's purchasing decisions say a lot about what wins their hearts and dollars.
In a nutshell, here's what's in: products and brands that are socially or environmentally conscious, employ simple advertising and design, and embrace individuality. What's out: anything corporate, mass-produced, or harmful to the environment.
Here's your cultural reference guide to unlocking the Gen-Y brain:
MOVIE: Napoleon Dynamite
MUSIC: Riot Grrl rock, Gym Class Heroes, anything that blends genres from hip-hop to electronica to rock ‘n' roll
T.V. SHOWS: Sex and the City, reality shows
FAST FOOD: In-N-Out Burger
FURNITURE: IKEA
SNEAKERS: Adidas and Converse
TECHNOLOGY: Apple
AIRLINE: JetBlue
NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE: Vitamin Water
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE: Red Stripe and Pabst Blue Ribbon (a.k.a. PBR)
CLOTHING: American Apparel, H&M, and Levi's
AUTOMOBILE: Volkswagen
GROCERY STORE: Trader Joe's and Whole Foods
BIG-BOX STORE: Target
WEB SITES: MySpace and Facebook
BLOGS: engadget.com, productdose.com, thecoolhunter.com
SOURCE: OUTLAW CONSULTING RESEARCH REPORTS
