Gift Mythbusters
Myth #1 - Get Women Pink StuffIn doing research for this site, it amazes me how often I see articles, advice, and gift suggestions written by women or men that proclaim loudly,"All women love pink." "Get her a pink one!" "Ladies like pink." And so on and so on. Well...it's time we busted this myth once and for all because it just isn't true. Pink shows up often in the world of women... The musical Grease had the "Pink Ladies", the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation has raised millions with their pink ribbon symbol, the iconic Mary Kay pink cadillac, and let's not forget Barbie herself, the most pink-loving lady around. I'm sure you can think of others... Pastel pink is of course the official color for girls, but that doesn't mean it is beloved by all full grown women. In fact, statistics show it isn't. Busted! Ready for the facts? Here's what women have said are their favorite colors:
Her least favorite colors?
Source: Birren, Faber., Color Psychology and Color Therapy. The study also states that as women mature, they prefer the "cool" colors even more -- blue, green, and purple. Pink isn't even on the charts! So the next time you are thinking about getting her a gift and wondering what color is right, think blue, purple and green. And maybe skip the orange. :) Myth #2 - Sweet Food-Scented Gifts? She Wants Them!Peach pie scented candles, cinnamon bun soap, apple cobbler air freshener, chocolate mint shampoo, candy cane sachets...women all adore having their homes, clothes, and bodies smell like a sugar factory, right?Well, this myth is plausible for some women, but for many women it is just plain... Busted! Want to know what smells women really love? In the United States researchers found out. Two thousand women ages 18 through 35 told interviewers their most preferred aromas. The results? Women's Scent Preferences Nationwide: Women's Scent Preferences Regionally:
Source: Sept. 14 /PRNewswire - Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago The conclusion? Unless you are sure she'll love it, keep the sweet smelling gifts in their original form -- in the fridge, on the stove, in the oven...as food. Myth #3 - All Women Love Going Out ShoppingHere's a classic myth just waiting to be busted. If you believe what you see in the media, all women love going to mall, adore clipping coupons for their next trip to the grocery store, and like driving out to outlets to go bargain hunting.This myth is deeply embedded in the male perception of women, and here's an example... In "Eveolution", a book about marketing to women, writer and futurist Faith Popcorn tells a story of how she had to convince a male grocery store executives that most women don't really like grocery shopping. But, the executive asked, where will women talk to other women? Don't they like talking to other women while they are waiting in line? This conversation took place in the 1990's not the 1890's! Faith informed the executive that women want to socialize -- but at the coffee shop, in the bar, at home, in the park, or on vacation. Not waiting in line at the store! Busted! So let's look at the facts... "75.1% of women identified themselves as the primary shoppers for their households, according to MRI's Survey of the American Consumer in 2009, down from 85.5% in 1989.11" Source: http://www.catalyst.org/publication/256/buying-power 64% of women and 60% of men shop online. Source: NPD group 22% shop online at least once a day Source: Mindshare/Ogilvy & Mather Clearly women do most of the purchasing, but more and more women are choosing to do certain types of shopping online instead of fighting traffic, packing up the kids, and wasting time in line. The internet has made it possible for women to get delivery services at a reasonable price and avoid having to go to a store for tedious, repetitive types of shopping. Some examples:
So, have you thought about giving her a laptop? :)
Myth #4 - Diamonds Are A Girl's Best FriendDiamonds are definitely Marilyn's best friend. But what about most women? What or who is their "best friend"?It isn't a gemstone... It isn't jewelry... It doesn't come with a huge pricetag! It has four legs. Her best friend is a cat or a dog. Busted! Here are the facts...
Myth #5 - Women Are Most Impressed With Expensive GiftsAdvertisers want us to believe that spoiling a woman with luxury gifts is the surefire way to win her or wow her.Do women really care that they are getting an expensive gift? Is this the most important part of a gift for her? Nope! Busted! Here's what is important to women: The majority (67%) list their favorite type of holiday gift to receive as something they normally wouldn't buy for themselves. They also like to receive gifts that are:
Source: Enesco Corporation Study of Americans' Attitudes Toward Gifting, USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education). FindArticles.com. 29 Oct, 2010 So when you shop, think about how your gift is going to make her feel, instead of focusing on how much it costs!
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