MATURE MARKET HEADLINES POSTED 09/29/97
If You Make the Cards, They Will Send Them
Success is in the cards for American Greetings, the Cleveland-based mega-greeting card company with $2 billion in sales. AG has launched its "All New American Way" marketing strategy that reflects the lifestyles of today's baby boomers. Increased life-expectancy, healthier lifestyles, two-career families have resulted in new product lines.
For example, thanks to medical advances and managed health care, people are recovering from illnesses faster and spending less time in the hospital. This trend has resulted in new cards that express "encouragement" and "thinking of you" as alternatives to get well cards for hospital patients.
With more working moms and busier family lifestyles, the need for new adult-to-children communication has generated pocket notes (miniature greeting cards) that can be tucked into the child's lunch box or coat pocket to convey supportive messages like, "Here's a hug for someone special". Of course, there's also the baby boomers' obsession with youth and looks. Does that mean consumers can expect a new "You look Maaaah-vah-lous" greeting card?
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Computer Users May Require Special Glasses
New research indicates that special occupational lenses are a good idea for computer users who wear multifocal lenses. Since bifocals have prescriptions for near and distance vision only, wearers have difficulty focusing on a computer screen, which is at an intermediate distance of 21 to 24 inches from the eyes, says researcher, Dr. Steven Butzon.
Reporting in the Journal of the American Optometric Association, Butzon studied workers age 47 and over who spent at least 75 percent of their day working at a computer. Ordinary trifocals often are not a satisfactory solution because their narrow intermediate segment doesn't allow the computer user to see the entire screen clearly.
This results in eyestrain, blurred vision, loss of focus, dry eyes, and pain in the neck, shoulder, and back. So two types of occupational lenses were tested in the study which saught to remedy the situation. One lens was a wide-band trifocal, which has a wider than usual segment for seeing at intermediate distances. This wider segment minimizes head movement.
The other lens was a progressive addition lens with expanded near and intermediate viewing zones. The results? Seventy percent of the computer users preferred the progressive lens.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Weight-control Information Network
The Weight-control Information Network (WIN) is a service provided by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, which is component of the National Institutes of Health.
WIN provides information on weight control, obesity, and related topics to health professionals and the public. WIN responds to information requests with fact sheets, pamphlets, journal article reprints, and reports.
WIN also operates a toll-free information number: 1-800-WIN-8098, that allows consumers to listen to messages on nutrition, weight control, and obesity and to request WIN publications. WIN information can be accessed via the Internet at www.niddk.nih.gov/NutritionDocs.html
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Weathering the Weather Whether Home or Not
Control Products Inc announced a new website describing products that take the worry out of leaving your home alone in winter weather. Two such products, the FreezeAlarm (tm) and Voice Dialers (tm) automatically dial preset telephone numbers and deliver an alarm message to the home owner who is away on extended vacation.
The message is sent when the home's interior falls below a preset temperature. Homeowners can then call from any remote phone to check the temperature and power status of the home. Some models allow the consumer to turn on the heat in the home or contact a local maintenance company to check out the problem.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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How Does Your Financial Planner Bill You?
Typical fee arrangements between financial planners and their clients fall into five categories, says Phyllis Bernstein, Certified Financial Planner, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
- Hourly Fees are used to charge for the time spent with clients.
- Commissions on Sales of Products such as load funds.
- Asset Management Fees are based on amount of client assets under management.
- Flat Fees are similar to an annual retainer for all planning work.
- Fee-offset refers to a fee that is offset with commissions.
Other fee methods, says Bernstein, are generally combinations of those described above. They include: fee plus commission, fee caps and hourly or fixed fees plus asset-based fees. A financial planner should explain the fee method used prior to your becoming a client.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Dr. David Demko, Editor
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