Women are powerful consumers. Comprising 51% of the U.S. population, women are the key decision-makers for 83% of all goods and services that enter her household.

Women are responsible for $6 trillion in spending. They make 62% of all car purchases, buy 75% of all over the counter medications, and purchase 82% of all groceries. And, in 2006, single women accounted for 21% of all home purchases.

Women account for 66% of all home computer purchases, open 89% of all bank accounts, are decision-makers for 70% of leisure travel and control 80% of all healthcare decisions.

Did you know that 10.6 million businesses are women - owned? This accounts for 48% of all businesses in the country! Women represent nearly half of investors with $100,000 or more in investable assets. And, it's estimated that between 2010 and 2015, Baby Boomer women will inherit $12.5 trillion from their parents.

She's also living longer than any other time in history, with an average life expectancy of 79.5 years. And, she'll become an even more powerful consumer as she takes on caring for her elderly family members . . . 75% of caretakers of elderly family members are women.

She's a powerful consumer, but a recent Yankelovich Study indicated that women feel that most advertising is not relevant to her, or respectful of her. You can increase relevance and respect by developing messaging that "connects" with her ... instead of "selling" to her.

Sources: Economic Commission on the Status of Women, Consumer Electronics Association, Bureau of Economic Development, National Association of Realtors, ABC World News Tonight, LIMRA Market Facts, On Wall Street, Forbes, Center for Women’s Business Research, Whitman School of Management Syracuse University, Department of Health & Human Resources

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