Monday, March 26, 2007

To some, youth may be "seen and not heard," but their influence is everywhere. This session explores how age no longer defines the generations. The purchasing influence of the youth market affects consumer decisions on restaurants, cars, and home furnishings to electronics and everything in between. We will take a look at how the retail landscape is shifting and how it's being driven by the youth market.

• How to market better by understanding the nuances of speaking to the youth market.
• How to understand the youth market and their impact on boomer's spending decisions.
• How to motivate this market.
• How the youth market impacts other markets.
Marshal Cohen, Chief Industry Analyst, The NPD Group, Inc.

Marshal Cohen is chief industry analyst of The NPD Group and a national expert on the apparel, footwear, and accessories markets. He is the company's leading spokesperson on fashion and has followed the latest retail trends for thirty years. Marshal is also one of the foremost authorities on consumer behavior related to shopping habits, demonstrated in his new book, Why Customers Do What They Do. He is widely known within the industry as a reliable source for information on the trends driving consumer behavior, revealing why and how consumers' daily habits affect their purchasing habits. He has appeared on many broadcast news outlets including "Today", "Good Morning America", and regularly on CNBC. He is currently a guest professor at North Carolina State University School of Textiles.