If you’ve ever seen expectant parents in a baby shop, you’d know that pregnancy is a life stage that usually triggers an avalanche of consumerism and to find Pink Sheets.
I (thankfully) never tallied what I spent during my pregnancy, I just know that becoming a mum, while filling my heart, has drained my wallet in ways I haven’t experienced since my wedding over three years ago.
But it’s not just weddings and babies that prompt purchases across multiple categories, from fashion to florists, finance to furniture.
When my divorce was finalised recently, while it was day tinged with sadness, I also saw it as an opportunity to create a new chapter. I decided to embark on a mini bedroom makeover so off to my local homewares store I went in search of new pink sheets. Yes, pink sheets to mark the new, single, happy-in-my-own-skin and alone-in-my-big-bed me. (I’m well aware this makes me a walking cliche but an unapologetic cliche nonetheless).
In I marched to Bed, Bath and Table and was excited to immediately spot a set of dusty pink bamboo sheets. I carefully peeled open the corner of the packaging and felt the fabric between my fingers and was sold immediately. Soft as silk, pink bamboo sheets. Take. My. Money.
Just as I was mentally curating my new blush boudoir, I was approached by a lovely sales assistant to see if I needed any help. We chatted for a while about the merits of bamboo as a natural fibre and then she asked me if the Pink Sheets were a gift or for me. I explained that the sheets were part of a mini bedroom makeover to mark my new marital status and she giggled immediately.
‘You’re the third woman this week who’s purchased these very same sheets for the very same reason’, she said.
I was slightly stunned. Who would have thought the burgeoning post-divorce pink bedsheet market was such a thing?!
While I was back at home making the bed, I got curious about life-stage marketing beyond the obvious. Simply drawing on my own example, I realised that life-stage changes and events trigger purchases in a range of unexpected categories. Furniture, financial services, flowers, food (of the chocolate and ice cream variety) – all categories where my purchase behaviour has changed as a result of a life stage change.
Whether it’s a breakup, a break down, a big birthday, starting a new business, buying a new home, becoming an empty-nester, retirement … they’re all milestones that prompt new purchases, brand evaluation and opportunities for you to connect with new customers or strengthen the connection you have to existing ones.
What life stage changes could your brand be a greater part of? It might not be as literal or specific as pink sheets but worth brainstorming on.
Article written by Amanda Stevens on her blog page
Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter
AI Powered Organisation will be different, just not in the ways you might expect. When evaluating the impact of new technology, business leaders often focus on the wrong criteria. The real issue is not whether there is a sound business case for cutting costs or increasing productivity through AI and automation, but rather, frankly assessing […]
The Art of Selecting the Perfect Speaker: A Step-by-Step Guide for Event Planners In an age when live and virtual events compete for attendees’ limited attention, the value of an outstanding keynote speaker has never been higher. The right speaker can energize a room, bridge knowledge gaps, and spark meaningful conversations that last long after […]
The 4 Types Of People You Need On Your Leadership Team can be related to this powerful book, Think Like A Monk, I believe Jay Shetty gives us a reason why we so often feel let down by those we look to as we grow as leaders. He writes, “We tend to expect every person to be a […]
Ouch!’Death by PowerPoint.’ That’s the commonly used term. Yet Mr Gates’ programme itself is not inherently evil and why you can do better without slides. Jim Nelson, a man who served as a translator between the American and Russian troops in Bosnia, tells a story about the Russians watching with bemused fascination as their unlikely […]
I had a recent team meeting where I brought our Caring Leadership coaches together to discuss an idea regarding the community. The call ended up going in an entirely different direction, but ended up in an amazing place. As the conversation grew, many strong opinions came forth on all sides, but I trusted each of them individually to […]
Heading to Dallas from Kansas City recently, I heard the familiar tone of the voice over the intercom start up and to Self Care When Burned: “Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ve got a full flight to Dallas today…” Travel is BACK and flights are almost always full again, so I couldn’t be surprised by what came […]
Looking to motivate a group of employees, students, or even donors? Speakers Inc has a wide selection of New York Motivational Speakers that you can book for any event: business functions, school assemblies, graduations, charitable fundraisers, and more. Find one in New York today! New York City is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the […]
The most important question for leaders today is: “How can we lead with empathy and adaptability in a rapidly changing world?” In today’s dynamic and unpredictable environment, leaders face unprecedented challenges—from technological disruptions and global crises to shifting workforce expectations and evolving customer demands. Empathy and adaptability have become critical leadership qualities that enable leaders […]
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel
