Women - The Myths The Realities Things Successful Entrepreneurs Should Know
Women - The Myths The Realities Things Successful Entrepreneurs Should Know
My favorite is the Pink Myth. This myth hinges on the fact that manufacturers and retailers have selected pink as their marketing strategy when targeting women. Pink, while a lovely color, is just that–a color. It is not a marketing vehicle. In fact, it is often a roadblock to success. For example, the 1950s pink Dodge Le Femme lasted a mere two years and sold less than 1,000 units. Likewise, the Cadillac Baroness and the Pontiac Parisian were low sellers.
Automotive manufacturers weren't the only marketers who tried to capture the female market by "coloring it pink." As more women traveled for business, hotel rooms turned pastel. In the late 1950s, Royal made a pink typewriter. Tires, running shoes, tool sets and gun grips have all tried pink.
Today's female consumer is savvy. She is interested in far more than color. She wants to be respected and appreciated as a customer, not stereotyped and patronized.
Myth: You will lose male customers if you target women.
Reality: Manufacturers, brand managers, retailers and business owners have wasted a lot of energy worrying about losing their male customers if they are successful with female ones. The facts just don't bear this out. Consider for instance:
1. Companies that have listened to women have increased their sales to them without a loss of male customers. For example, in the early 1980s when Jockey International decided to make a line of women's wear, their bottom line almost doubled as a result of creating products for 100% of the adult population, rather than less than 50%.
2. Women spend $.85 of every dollar. Who is your most important consumer—the one who spends 85% or the one who spends 15% of the money?
Myth: Little things aren't as important to women as big things.
Reality: Little things are big things to women. How a woman is treated can be as critical to the sale as the product or price. In fact, most of the time, it is more important. Women are value-added consumers. They will pay more for something if they perceive value in it. Conversely, they will terminate the sales process if they feel they are being talked down to or ignored.
Myth: There is no difference between men and women, so salespeople need no special training or information.
Reality: Wrong. To understand a woman's motivation to buy, salespeople need to understand a woman's thought process and the life experiences she brings with her. By trying to feel as she feels and think as she thinks, you will be in a better position to complete the sale.
You might start by:
• Reading magazines she reads
• Thinking of the dangers she faces while traveling
• Asking your wife, sister, daughter or coworker how it feels to be ignored in an electronic store
• Thinking about how you would feel if you paid more for your dry cleaning, alterations and hair cuts
• Watching TV exposès about women paying more for cars than their male counterpart, getting worse tee times, and being paid $.72 for every dollar a man makes with the same education, experience and capabilities.
These are the facts; the realities a woman faces daily.
Myth: Given the identical set of circumstances, men and women will generally react the same and come to the same conclusions.
Reality: Men and women have different physical characteristics, brain construction, hormones and life experiences. This allows us to be very unique individuals with distinct personalities and traits. Many reflect our gender. Others are innate or developed in response to the norms of society.
The important thing to realize is when you are selling to a woman, or a man, think of him/her as a unique individual. Focus on his/her specific needs. Realize that gender plays a role in who we are, but that we are all individuals and should be treated as such.
To be successful, you may need to dispel some myths you have heard and believed for a long time. Accept the reality of our differences and use them to your advantage. Create a win-win selling situation and watch your business prosper.
Women The Myths The Realities Things Successful Entrepreneurs Should Know - To learn more about this author, visit Gerry Myers's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Separating truth from fiction can be difficult at times. While the myths surrounding marketing and selling to women are numerous, they are also easy to dispel.
My favorite is the Pink Myth. This myth hinges on the fact that manufacturers and retailers have selected pink as their marketing strategy when targeting women. Pink, while a lovely color, is just that–a color. It is not a marketing vehicle. In fact, it is often a roadblock to success. For example, the 1950s pink Dodge Le Femme lasted a mere two years and sold less than 1,000 units. Likewise, the Cadillac Baroness and the Pontiac Parisian were low sellers.
Automotive manufacturers weren't the only marketers who tried to capture the female market by "coloring it pink." As more women traveled for business, hotel rooms turned pastel. In the late 1950s, Royal made a pink typewriter. Tires, running shoes, tool sets and gun grips have all tried pink.
Today's female consumer is savvy. She is interested in far more than color. She wants to be respected and appreciated as a customer, not stereotyped and patronized.
Myth: You will lose male customers if you target women.
Reality: Manufacturers, brand managers, retailers and business owners have wasted a lot of energy worrying about losing their male customers if they are successful with female ones. The facts just don't bear this out. Consider for instance:
1. Companies that have listened to women have increased their sales to them without a loss of male customers. For example, in the early 1980s when Jockey International decided to make a line of women's wear, their bottom line almost doubled as a result of creating products for 100% of the adult population, rather than less than 50%.
2. Women spend $.85 of every dollar. Who is your most important consumer—the one who spends 85% or the one who spends 15% of the money?
Myth: Little things aren't as important to women as big things.
Reality: Little things are big things to women. How a woman is treated can be as critical to the sale as the product or price. In fact, most of the time, it is more important. Women are value-added consumers. They will pay more for something if they perceive value in it. Conversely, they will terminate the sales process if they feel they are being talked down to or ignored.
Myth: There is no difference between men and women, so salespeople need no special training or information.
Reality: Wrong. To understand a woman's motivation to buy, salespeople need to understand a woman's thought process and the life experiences she brings with her. By trying to feel as she feels and think as she thinks, you will be in a better position to complete the sale.
You might start by:
• Reading magazines she reads
• Thinking of the dangers she faces while traveling
• Asking your wife, sister, daughter or coworker how it feels to be ignored in an electronic store
• Thinking about how you would feel if you paid more for your dry cleaning, alterations and hair cuts
• Watching TV exposès about women paying more for cars than their male counterpart, getting worse tee times, and being paid $.72 for every dollar a man makes with the same education, experience and capabilities.
These are the facts; the realities a woman faces daily.
Myth: Given the identical set of circumstances, men and women will generally react the same and come to the same conclusions.
Reality: Men and women have different physical characteristics, brain construction, hormones and life experiences. This allows us to be very unique individuals with distinct personalities and traits. Many reflect our gender. Others are innate or developed in response to the norms of society.
The important thing to realize is when you are selling to a woman, or a man, think of him/her as a unique individual. Focus on his/her specific needs. Realize that gender plays a role in who we are, but that we are all individuals and should be treated as such.
To be successful, you may need to dispel some myths you have heard and believed for a long time. Accept the reality of our differences and use them to your advantage. Create a win-win selling situation and watch your business prosper.
Women The Myths The Realities Things Successful Entrepreneurs Should Know - To learn more about this author, visit Gerry Myers's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
|||
George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
|||
Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
|||
Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
|||
Stephanie RobeyStephanie Robey is President and CoFounder of Pivot Positive, LLC - an Internet marketing business focused on helping people start work at home ventures. Previously, she was employed at The Search Agency with over 20 years experience in graphic design and 10 years experience in online marketing. She was responsible for launching the Conversion Path Optimization (CPO) unit where she and her team have conducted hundreds of optimization tests for online companies across multiple verticals. She is a successful entrepreneur having started and sold 2 companies and remains on the board of directors of the third, PhotoSpin.com Stephanie began her career in the direct marketing realm creating and producing direct mail for many of the major cable television companies and directly attributes her understanding of Internet marketing to those early offline experiences. Stephanie is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BFA in Graphic Arts and also holds an Executive MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. Read Steph's Blog Meet Steph and Dave Sign up for our Free 7-Day BootCamp: Self Employed & Rich - Visit Stephanie Robey's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Gerry's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
 |
||
|
||
|
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Biography How To Get Media Attention Write A Bestseller Adopting Creative Thinking Selling Shovels |
|
 | ||
 |
The Top 10 ProBlogger Posts
Best Posts for Bloggers | |
 |
Top 50 Debt Blogs
Learn To Get Out Of Debt | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
