Number of Weddings to Double as Echo Boomers Reach Marrying Age

Mountain View, CA (PRLEAP) October 18, 2005 – Starting next year, Echo Boomers, a.k.a generation Y will be the target of the wedding industry as the oldest of them reach marrying age.

They have been the focus of market researchers for years, and entire ad campaigns are designed around them, for good reason. Echo Boomers, those born between 1979 and 2002 number 71 million, nearly twice the preceding generation. And the oldest of them will be 27 next year, the median age of first time brides and grooms in the US according to a study conducted by Fairchild Bridal Group.

As a result, the wedding industry anticipates an increase in the number of weddings each year for the next 20 years, up from the current average of 2.1 million.

What does this mean for wedding retailers? A golden opportunity to reach out to a growing market. Already a multi-billion dollar industry, the entrance of the next generation to the wedding market means opportunities for small businesses to grow. But in order to grab the attention of the Millennials (yet another name for Gen Y) among increasing competition, retailers have to zero in on their interests, habits, and styles. They are characterized by their connectedness: to their communities through extracurricular activities, to one another through email and cell phones, and to the world through television and the Internet.

As savvy net-shoppers, today’s brides can purchase almost everything they need for their weddings without ever stepping into to a bricks -and-mortar store. They can browse through dozens of websites, and comparison shop effortlessly. For online retailers, the best way to capture their business is to offer something different. Merchandisers at a top wedding favors site, Beau-Coup.com , say one of their biggest challenges is to keep their line of favors and gifts up to date. “Something really popular one season can be completely overexposed the next,” says Gina Cresci, “And we always want to offer new ideas because people know when they see something fresh, that can’t be found around every corner.”

Born into a hi-tech world, Echo Boomers are used to having things their way, and quickly. Beaucoup Wedding Favors President Polly Liu agrees, “We handle rush orders every day. They’re the norm, rather than the exception , ” explains Liu. “Sometimes I wonder how these brides would plan their weddings if we didn’t have things like overnight shipping"

How do wedding retailers like Beaucoup plan to take on the Echo Boomers? “By growing with them,” says Liu, “We’ve always given our clients very personal attention, and it doesn’t have to change. We’ll just hire more people if we have to!” That’s the spirit.