America is a consumerist nation; our businesses rely heavily on specific marketing strategies that target certain demographics. Although young people are the most popular targets, they are quickly being outnumbered. By 2050, the 85+ age group will total 5% of the entire U.S. population. Before we can make changes that cater to an aging population’s spending habits, we need to understand how older adults shop.

Changes In Financial Focus

Studies have found that spending habits markedly shift once Americans hit the age of 45. This age describes a peak in household spending: on average, those between 45 and 54 spend around $56,781 annually on a variety of goods and services, from travel expenses to mortgage payments. Compare that to the $33,303 that Americans over the age of 75 spend each year, and you’ve got a clear disparity.

Whereas younger people are more likely to spend money on entertainment and so-called “frivolous” purchases, older adults focus almost all of their money on healthcare expenses. They spend more on prescription drugs and medicines, doctor’s appointments, and nursing home care than any other demographic. When you consider the average American spends $1,800 annually on clothing, there’s a clear difference in focus. Because of this focus, it can be hard to reach out to them as a group if you aren’t offering such services or products. With their rising numbers, however, businesses across the country are going to have to learn to adapt.

Appealing To An Aging Crowd

It’s easy to believe that older demographics are set in their ways and resistant to new ideas or products, but that’s an obvious generalization; as an article in Forbes wrote, “Many firms see the older marketplace not in shades of gray but medical blue and hospital beige.” With potentially trillions of dollars sitting untapped in the 50+ market, meeting their specific needs is a worthwhile risk — and, fortunately, it’s easier than you’d think.

• Build campaigns that drive calls. Approximately 70% of buying experiences are based on how the customer feels they are being treated. For younger Americans, this is mainly focused on online and mobile experiences. To reach the elderly population, you’ll want to focus on phone calls; 36% of those aged over 55 use the internet for research but prefer to talk to someone on the phone before they buy, and almost 60% of those aged over 55 are more likely to return to a store or brand after speaking with them on the phone. When you spend time on campaigns that driver older consumers to pick up the phone, you’re more likely to produce better conversions and higher order values.
• Maintain a positive image. Older adults often have a lot more time on their hands than their younger counterparts. This means that they’ll be more likely to visit your brick-and-mortar location, or research your business online. If your image — both in terms of a physical storefront or negative customer reviews — is too sullied, it can discourage the older generations from ever coming back. With graffiti negatively affecting property values by as much as 15%, it’s easy to imagine how big of an impact it could have on customer opinion.

An aging population could be boon for businesses everywhere, provided they’re ready and equipped to deal with their unique needs. By taking the right steps, you can help your company tap into that massive market and serve an ever-expanding demographic.

With an average of 102,465 flights occurring every day, the maintenance of the aircraft responsible for getting us from Point A to Point B is extremely important. Although we rarely interact with them as passengers, we owe the safety and timeliness of our flights to the approximately 131,500 aircraft mechanics and service technicians currently employed in the United States. We also have more than five times more heliports than any other country in the world.

It can be hard to truly understand just what it is they do beyond “fixing” the plane when a problem arises; when we’re seated on a Boeing 737 headed to Europe, we care more about arriving on time than the nuts and bolts of the actual work the aircraft mechanic is performing. Let’s take a look at some of the hazards of this crucial job.

Physical and Environmental Dangers

There is a famous quote that many individuals in the aviation industry are familiar with: “Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect.” When you’re working with the intricate systems within a jet engine, navigation system, or even the landing gear, a great deal can go wrong — for both the engineer and the passengers. Environmental factors such as extreme heats and colds can lead to serious health problems (heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps can all cause mechanics to make mistakes, at the very least), but the real danger lies in chemical exposure.

The chemicals present in lubricating oils and hydraulic fluids is quite harmful, both to touch and to inhale. Contact dermatitis can occur after as little as one second of exposure, and the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) can easily exacerbate the situation. Most notable is the constant use of asbestos in the aviation industry due to its amazing industrial properties; its tensile strength surpasses that of steel, and it has tremendous thermal stability, thermal and electrical resistance, and is non-flammable. Unfortunately, asbestos is also exceptionally toxic.

Repercussions

It’s vital that aircraft mechanics are well aware of the materials they’re working with. Asbestos exposure, particularly over long periods of time, can lead to mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs; the symptoms dry coughing or wheezing, shortness of breath (dyspnea), respiratory complications, pain in the chest or abdomen, and fever or night sweats. Tragically, only 9% of patients survive more than five years beyond their diagnosis; those commercials advertising law firms that deal with mesothelioma wrongful death suits are designed for workers in industries such as aviation.

Aviation mechanics are exposed to a higher number of threats than most other professions. The physical dangers of working with such heavy and dangerous machinery can lead to illness, disability (which can make life significantly more difficult as people with disabilities earn around 70% less annually than those without disabilities), and even death. Luckily, there are more than 7,000 urgent care centers ready to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries. The next time you’re sitting on an airplane and you feel yourself getting annoyed at a mechanical delay, take a moment to be grateful that your biggest worry is being late!

Detroit isn’t especially known for its cookie cutter domiciles. With countless historic homes just waiting to be rehabbed, it’s no wonder that people tend to look to the Motor City for more unique properties. With about 32% of people looking to buy homes being first time homebuyers, there is always a demand for houses that need a little more attention. So it’s only fitting that, this August, the wildly popular Weird Homes Tour will return to the city to offer attendees an eyeful.

The one-day, self-guided tour will cover “10 of the most eccentric, funky, extraordinary, off-the-path, magical, and yes, ‘weird’ homes that Detroit has to offer,” according to the organization’s website. Although patent protection is strongly utilized across 12 industries to protect unique inventions, these homes are sure to stand out without worry of imitation.

Not sure what to expect from this year’s tour? Consider the properties featured in the inaugural event, which included some truly one-of-a-kind houses. An artist/car designer showed off his loft filled with classic vehicles and mod egg chairs (likely made using the reaction injection molding process, where two liquid components are mixed and molded before curing), while another house — known as Detroit Abloom — was turned into an ethereal flower farm. There was even a three-story home made out of shipping containers, which represents only a small portion of the 17 million shipping containers in circulation on a global scale. There was also an over-the-top midcentury property, a cinder block home with neon-colored walls, and an unassuming property filled with colorful furniture, disco balls, and wacky clothing creations.

While organizers set a goal of selling 500 tickets last year, the tour proved more popular than even they anticipated. Roughly 900 tickets were sold during the first year, though organizers stress they want to keep the numbers manageable for the homeowners participating. This year’s list of homes has not yet been finalized; in fact, organizers are still accepting submissions. Organizers want a wide range of homes, though they’d prefer to keep most close to the city to ensure attendees don’t have to drive too far away.

On August 24 from 10 am to 5 pm, attendees can visit the homes in any order they choose. Regular tickets are $30, but there’s a $45 VIP option that grants attendees access to a secret house, free admission for kids under 13, and branded merchandise. Organizers have stated that 10% of ticket sales this year will benefit Southwest Solutions, a local non-profit focused on finding housing solutions that are both affordable and sustainable.

Detroit isn’t the only city welcoming a Weird Homes Tour. Portland, Austin, Houston, and New Orleans have also held these events, with organizers noting that larger cities like San Francisco aren’t far behind. If you’re looking for a unique way to get to know your city and appreciate what kinds of eccentric designs exist in Detroit, you might want to get your tickets and start exploring.

Vaccines prevent approximately 2.5 million deaths every year. Despite this proven fact, many parents are choosing to opt out of their children’s vital vaccinations. The argument is a contentious one: anti-vax ideology is based on a fraudulent study performed in 1998 that linked the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine to autism. Though the study has since been revealed to be falsified and altogether incorrect, many parents are terrified of the repercussions vaccines could have on their children.

This is a problem in and of itself; in the three months since 2019 began, 314 individual cases of measles have been reported and confirmed in 15 states. Though the nation is in the midst of an epidemic, the anti-vax mentality becomes much more personal when the parents of an unvaccinated child are divorced — and have differing opinions on whether or not that child should be vaccinated.

Divorce And Custody

When two people get divorced and share a child, a decision must be made regarding custody. Although children age 12 and older are permitted to speak privately with the judge regarding their preferences, the ruling depends on which parent the judge considers to be the most “fit” to raise a child. If one parent has sole custody, they have the right to vaccinate — or request an exemption — for their child regardless of the other parent’s wishes; the other parent would need to take them to court to fight for their right if they were unhappy with it.

In situations of joint custody, things get more complicated. In an ideal world, both parents and the child’s physician would come together to discuss the best option for their health. If they are unable to come to an agreement, neither would be able to do anything over the objection of the other parent. Just like the previous scenario, the parent seeking vaccination would need to submit an order to a judge, wherein both parents would argue their cases, which could include the child’s medical history as well as testimony from the child’s medical providers.

High Risks

Unfortunately, there is more than just a parent’s pride at stake here. In order for herd immunity to protect your unvaccinated child from measles, between 93% and 95% of the nation’s population must be inoculated against it. In 2016, only 91.1% of American children had received their MMR vaccine. In Clark County, Oregon, the epicenter of the biggest outbreak in the northwestern U.S., that number was a startling 77.4%.

This is a disease that was declared eradicated in the U.S. in the year 2000. In addition to the health — and life — of your own child, newborns, those with immune disorders, and those undergoing cancer treatments are all susceptible to the debilitating symptoms and complications that can arise from contracting measles; from pneumonia to encephalitis (swelling of the brain), the dangers of refusing a vaccination are immense and very real. If you and your ex-spouse disagree over whether or not to inoculate your child, keep this information in mind.

Dodge Data and Analytics’ 2016 Construction Outlook report predicted 6% growth, with the value of construction starts reaching an estimated $712 billion. There’s no denying that construction opportunities are on the rise, particularly in the residential real estate sector. And the Albany Democratic-Herald has recently compiled a list of the top states in the country for affordable home opportunities. Specifically, manufactured housing.

Manufactured homes have dropped in popularity and availability since their initial spike, but they’re yet again on the rise as a result of low housing budgets and consumer housing trends. Roughly 90% of engineers, 84% of contractors, and 76% of architects say they use prefab or modular construction processes for at least some of their projects. Now, nearly 12 million trucks, rail cars, locomotives, and vessels move goods over the transportation network, making manufactured housing arguably more affordable than ever, at least in several states. Let’s take a look at some highlights of the Herald’s list of the best states for manufactured housing opportunities — starting in our home state of Michigan.

Michigan

The list, which ranked states based on the increase in manufactured home shipments between 2009 and 2017, put Michigan at the number-six spot. It’s easy to see why: Michigan has undergone a whopping 1,144% increase in new manufactured homes since 2009. The average sale price for manufactured homes in Michigan as of 2017 is $66,500. On the contrary, the median list price for all Michigan homes in 2017 was $165,600. Keep in mind that The National Association of Realtors the average home sold by an agent in 2017 brought in $249,000, making the state affordable for traditional housing as well. Still, those looking for manufactured homes can easily snag a deal.

New York

In 2016, there were 560,000 homes sold in the United States, and while statewide reports show that residents are leaving New York in growing annual rates, manufactured housing opportunities statewide continue to rise. The Empire State made the number-10 spot on the list and has experienced a 36% increase in manufactured home construction since 2009, compared with just a 10% increase in all single-family homes builds. Plus, the average manufactured home price across the state in 2017 was $71,300, compared with a surprising $347,683 median list price for all homes in 2017. Needless to say, New York is a great place to explore manufactured housing opportunities to reap significant home cost savings.

Nebraska

Nebraska made the number-one spot on the list, with a 226% manufactured home build growth rate since 2009. The average sale price for manufactured homes in the state in 2017 was $71,600, compared with the median list price for all homes at $193,496 for the same year. While much of Nebraska is quite rural, there are plenty of cities with career opportunities, so consider your options carefully.

About 78% of recent buyers found their real estate agent to be a very useful source of information, so talk to your realtor if you’re interested in purchasing a manufactured home of your own. While these states ranked the best for manufactured housing costs and opportunities, availability as a whole is on the rise, and homeowners can customize their homes in countless ways.

“In the past, manufactured housing was largely considered out of necessity — as a more affordable alternative to site-built homes. But today, the industry is working hard to shed that stigma by providing compelling high-end offerings…technology advances in the factory have allowed manufactured home builders to provide buyers with a wide range of styles and customizations to fit their needs,” says the Herald.