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iMediaSalesTeam's Founder, Joshua Iverson, will be running in the 2013 Boston Marathon and he'll be putting his hard work to good use. He is raising money for iMediaSalesTeam's 2013 official charity, Jumpstart. Jumpstart's mission is to ensure that every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. Every year, Jumpstart recruits and trains thousands of college students and community volunteers, called Corps members, to work with preschool children in low-income neighborhoods. Throughout the school year, Corps members dedicate several hours each week with their partner children to implement Jumpstart's proven curriculum and develop the language, literacy, and social skills these children need to succeed in school and in life. To learn more about Jumpstart or to donate click here.

The Boomer Generation is 80 million strong and has always had the distinction as the largest generation in US history. And they dominated marketers' mindsets as they matured. But as the Boomers have aged and are moving beyond the coveted 18-49 category, marketers have stopped focusing on them. Which this report points out is probably not wise. The reality is Boomers are too valuable to ignore.

The Simple Math

• 44% of US Adult Population (80 million)
• As they join the 50+ segment it is reaching 100 million consumers.
• Between now and 2030, the 18-49 segment is expected to grow +12%, while the 50+ segment will expand +34%.

The report highlights “the facts that demonstrate that Boomers have the most and spend the most, that they are more tech savvy and more marketing-friendly than believed, but most importantly, that their business is winnable and losable. They are a much more sensitive and dynamic cohort than most realize.”

Boomers Value

In the next five years, Boomers are set to control 70 percent of the disposable income in the U.S. What's more, they stand to inherit $15 trillion in the next 20 years. And Boomers dominate 119 of 123 consumer packaged goods categories (94%). They spend close to 50% of all CPG dollars, yet it is estimated that less than 5% of advertising dollars are targeted to adults 35-64.

• 63% of Boomer HH Have At Least 1 Person Working
• 49% of Total CPG Sales ($230 Billion)
• Boomers spend close to $90 billion per year on cars
• Boomers are 40% of Customers Paying For Wireless
• Boomers are 41% of Customers Purchasing Apple Computers

Boomers Are Into Technology

Boomers represent one-third of all online and social media users. Close to another third of them - 29 million - say that they are heavy users of the Internet with over 8 million of them spending 20+ hours a week online.

• 33% of all Social Media & Twitter
• 53% of Boomers are on Facebook
• 33% Are Heavy Internet Users
• 33% Shop Online

Media Usage

Beyond their traditional love of television, it is the Boomers' increasing presence of free time that is driving their heavy media consumption. They are consumers who consume media because they like to and they can.

Television viewership increases with age, and the Boomers remain one of the medium's top viewing groups. On average, they spend 174 hours a month watching television, second only to the Traditionalists 65+ who log 205 hours of viewing per month.

Access The Full Report Here

Twice per year the Student Monitor publishes its Lifestyle & Media Report. The report details what college students are watching, reading and listening to.

Overall the report indicates yet again that college students are active consumers, with the interest, resources and mobility to shop for a wide variety of products and services. And the Spring 2012 study found that compared to last year college students have more money to spend. There were increases found for monthly discretionary spending (up 15% to $225), annual personal earnings (also up 15% to $4,809) and of the 50% that receive money from home also had an increase (up 19% to $315 per month). 9% are employed full time and almost half (46%) are employed part time.

The majority are studying Business (11%), followed by Engineering (7%), Health Professions (7%), Biology (6%), Education (5%) and Psychology (5%) continue to be the most common majors. One in four believe they will need more than four years to complete their undergraduate degree.

College Students spend a lot of time using technology – computers and cell phones are a campus staple. They do still find time to watch TV with Comedy Central, ABC, ESPN, FOX and MTV as the students’ favorite networks. But the majority are not watching their favorite TV shows on a TV set, as less than half (40%) of the time spent watching television is spent watching with a traditional TV set.

Media habits:

• Less than half the time spent watching television is spent watching with a TV set (40%, down from 45% last year) and 56% are at least “Somewhat interested” in watching television exclusively online
• Comedy Central, ABC, ESPN, FOX and MTV are students’ favorite networks (Family Guy, How I Met Your Mother, Jersey Shore, The Big Bang Theory, Walking Dead and ESPN SportsCenter are the most watched programs)
• Cosmo, People, SI Vogue and ESPN The Magazine are students “best read” titles

The impact of technology:

• 95% own a mobile phone. 64% (up from 54%) of owners own a Smartphone
• 27%, up from 16% last year own an iPhone). 28% plan to purchase a new mobile and 43% of these plan to purchase an iPhone
• 96% own a computer (88% a laptop, 19% a desktop, 10% a tablet and 4% a netbook)
• Among computer owners 85% use a laptop most often
• More students use an Apple computer than any other brand
• 11% (including 15% of Juniors) plan to buy a new computer in the next 12 months

Most commonly visited sites:

• Facebook
• Zinch
• Google
• Amazon
• Yahoo
• Craig’s List

The five most commonly reported past week’s activities include;

• Sent text
• Logged onto a social network
• Ate fast food off campus
• Drank bottled water
• Used a mobile phone to take/send a photo

Students as consumers:

• 82% report “Once I find a brand I like, I don’t try new ones” and more than four in ten (42%) report “I like to buy the newest/latest version of a product
• Fewer than a third of students (31%) agree with the statement “If I were purchasing a new vehicle, I would purchase a Chrysler, Ford or General Motors vehicle”
• In a typical month at school 34% make a purchase at an off campus bookstore, 44% at an on campus bookstore, 70% at an off campus convenience store, 54% in a department store, 81% at a fast food restaurant and 71% at a gas station
• 27% have a credit card in their own name (18% VISA, 8% MasterCard, 3% Discover and 2% American Express). Chase issues 19% of all students’ VISA and MasterCards, Back of America 17% and Wells Fargo 15%
• When asked what they expect to be doing immediately following graduation, 50% expect to be employed full-time following graduation (only 2% expect to be unemployed)

iMediaSalesTeam and Reptide Media have come together in a powerful strategic partnership that expands the reach for brands and advertisers. In a fast evolving digital marketplace, brands are discovering the ability to scale campaigns across audience segments like never before. Reptide Media’s focus on the valuable 18-34 year old marketplace plus iMediaSalesTeam’s expansive reach into the boomer audience (age 45+) creates an effective, efficient, and powerful force in the digital advertising marketplace.