These are a few highlights of a nationwide survey of 2,092 U
.
* More than two-thirds (69%) say they are at least likely to consider
purchasing
services, such as legal advice or banking services, from
companies that market directly to
gays and lesbians over competing
brands that do not.
"For several years, in-depth
research has allowed us to measure consumer
decision-making and to test what factors may truly influence
gay consumers,"
said Jake Stafford, senior marketing strategist at Witeck-Combs
Communications
. This online sample is not a probability sample.com) is the
nation's premier strategic marketing
communications firm, specializing in
reaching the gay and lesbian consumer market. (http://www. Known
for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based
research methods, Harris Interactive conducts
proprietary and public research
to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results
. offices and wholly owned
subsidiaries: London-based HI Europe (http://www.wirthlinworldwide.com
site, in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.com), as well as other publishing
, direct marketing and
e-commerce properties, including Alyson Publications, SpecPub, Inc.
lesbian x
The online survey also presented factors that would most influence GLB's
loyalty to consumer brands
.(1)
The findings from this most recent Witeck Combs/Harris Interactive survey
also suggest
that gay-specific marketing practices can influence how GLB
people connect with brands and form purchasing
decisions:
* Almost two-thirds (64%) of GLB respondents say they are at least likely
to consider purchasing everyday household products and services from
companies that market
directly to gays and lesbians over competing
brands that do not. I like to
keep up with the latest styles and trends."
Percentages represent combined
"1" and "2" responses
Base: GLB Respondents
%
The advertisement is informative, funny or witty and
includes
images of gay and lesbian people 51
The very same advertisement,
which is clearly tailored
to a gay audience with gay imagery, people or copy
that speaks
to me as a gay person, appears in both
mainstream publications and in gay publications
48
The very same advertisement, which is not tailored
to a gay audience
, appears in both mainstream publications
and in gay publications
44
The advertisement is informative, funny or witty but
does not speak
to me specifically as a gay person 38
The advertisement is informative, funny
or witty, but only uses
advertising copy to speak specifically to me as a gay person 18
TABLE 4
LIKELIHOOD OF CONSIDERING BRANDS
OR PRODUCTS
"How likely are you to . ?"
Base: GLB Respondents
Extremely Very Likely Somewhat Not At
Likely Likely Likely All
Likely
Consider brands that support
nonprofits and
/or causes
that are important to you
as a gay, lesbian, bisexual
or transgender
person % 28 22 14 28 7
Consider a brand that is
known
to provide equal
workplace benefits for all
of their employees, including
gay
and lesbian employees % 41 29 16 12 2
Consider purchasing everyday
household products and
services from companies that
market directly to gays
and
lesbians over competing
brands that do not % 15 22 28
24 11
Consider purchasing services
such as legal advice or
banking
services from
companies that market
directly to gays and
lesbians over competing
brands that do not % 23 20 25 20 11
Note: Percentages
may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 5
AWARENESS OF GAY-FRIENDLINESS
"If you wish to be aware about a company's reputation
for gay-friendliness,
where do you look?"
Base: GLB Respondents
%
Word of mouth
45
Gay websites
29
Gay magazines or newspapers 29
Close friends 27
Gay and lesbian nonprofit
organizations 20
Mainstream news sources
11
Advertisements by the company 7
Other
general interest websites 7
Personal customer experience
5
Gay and lesbian chambers of commerce
5
Family members 5
Other
5
Note: Multiple-response question
.
In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95
percent certainty
that the results for the overall sample have a sampling
error of plus or minus 3 percentage points
.
Additional Note: Previous research conducted by Harris Interactive in
conjunction with
Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. between
May 3 and 16, 2001 among 2,692 adults aged 18 and
over, of whom 128
self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Sampling
error is plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Press Contacts:
Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316
nwong@harrisinteractive.com
(RSVP)
, a leading marketer of gay and
lesbian travel events, for $6. A pioneer in the travel industry
since
1985, RSVP has hosted more than 80,000 guests from all over the world.
About RSVP Productions
, Inc. RSVP is headquartered in Minneapolis and is marketed through travel
agencies dedicated to the
gay and lesbian community as well as through direct
sales.com,
Kleptomaniac.com, and OUT+ABOUT
Travel, as well as localized versions of the
Gay.com); and, HIVPlus
(http://www.'s extrapolation
of five
percent (based on the national population figures) of the annual $1.top people
S. Specifically, when
making purchasing decisions,
they were asked how likely they were to consider a company's nondiscrimination
and benefit policies, its advertising strategy, and other forms of corporate
outreach.
Seven in 10 (70%) GLB respondents say they are extremely or very likely to
consider a brand that
is known to provide equal workplace benefits for all of
their employees, including gays and lesbians
. Half (51%) of GLB respondents
also report they are extremely or very likely to consider brands that
support
nonprofits and/or causes that are important to them as GLB people.
* Nearly half
(48%) of all GLB respondents say they find it most important
or very important -- when considering
products or services -- to see
advertising that is clearly tailored to a gay audience with
gay imagery,
people or copy that speaks to them as a gay person and that appears in
both mainstream publications and gay publications. Understandably, gays like to
spend their money
with companies that treat their gay employees equitably,
value them as customers and represent them
openly and accurately in marketing
initiatives. Sampling errors for GLB adults
aged 18 and over
(107) is plus or minus 10 percentage points.
About Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc.-based
global research company that blends premier strategic consulting
with innovative and efficient methods
of investigation, analysis and
application.S. 16 or (cell) 202-215-2210
jstafford@witeckcombs
.PlanetOut Inc. Acquires RSVP Vacations
Established in 1985, RSVP was the originator of the
gay and lesbian cruise
concept, and offers distinctive travel packages designed for gay and lesbian
travelers.
Planned destinations in 2006 include the Caribbean, Central America, the Czech
Republic
, Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, French Polynesia, Peru and
Thailand. PlanetOut's brands include
Gay.com, PlanetOut.outtraveler.planetoutinc. Such factors include,
among others, the company's limited
operating history and variability of
operating results; the company's ability to attract and retain
subscribers and
advertisers; the company's ability to integrate the acquired assets of RSVP;
competition;
timing of product launches; and the company's dependence on
technology infrastructure and the Internet
. Additional information concerning
factors that could affect PlanetOut's future business and financial
results is
included in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31
, 2004 and other public filings filed from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC), which are available at the SEC's
website at http://www.society people
adults, of
whom 107 have self-identified
as gay, lesbian or bisexual. "These new data confirm that a company's internal and external
behaviors
matter very much to gay households."
TABLE 1
KEEPING UP WITH STYLES AND TRENDS
"Now, we'd like to you to tell us how often you
do the following.
Methodology
Harris Interactive(R) conducted the study online within
the United States
between December 8 and 15, 2004, among a nationwide cross section of 2,092
adults
, of whom 107 self-identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual (GLB). It is impossible to quantify the errors
that may
result from these factors.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure
of the National
Council on Public Polls. In addition, given the low incidence of
response from
transgendered individuals, it is extremely difficult to draw
conclusions from the data captured.
witeckcombs.harrisinteractive.
Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases
and
technology to advance market leadership through U.hieurope.S.com
Kelly Gullo
Harris Interactive
585-214-7172
kgullo@harrisinteractive.
(Nasdaq: LGBT), the leading
media and entertainment company exclusively
serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT
) community, today
announced that it has completed its planned acquisition of substantially all
of
the assets of RSVP Productions, Inc.0 million in
additional consideration based on achievement of
certain financial performance
targets for 2007 and 2008.
RSVP is among the world's largest
and most respected gay and lesbian tour
operators and marketers offering distinctive travel packages
, including big
and small ship cruises, riverboat cruises, land tours and resort vacations
geared
toward a gay and lesbian audience.com and PlanetOut. More than 80,000 men and women have participated
in RSVP's big and
small ship cruises, riverboat cruises, land tours, and resort vacations. For more
information, please visit http://www.com.
PlanetOut Inc.advocate.com); Out
(http://www.
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to the historical information contained herein
, this press
release contains forward-looking statements, including the impact of
PlanetOut's acquisition
of RSVP, as well as statements containing the words
"believes," "anticipates," "expects," and similar
words. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company
to differ
materially from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward
-looking statements.x gay
National Survey Shows Gay-Specific Marketing Practices May Influence Brand Loyalty
and Purchase Decisions of Gays Lesbians and Bisexuals
, According to a recent nationwide
online
survey, one in four (24%) gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) adults report
that they always or often
"like to keep up with the latest styles and trends,"
compared with 17 percent of heterosexual adults
."
Base: All Adults
GLB Heterosexuals
% %
Always/often (NET)
24 17
Always
3 3
Often 21 14
Sometimes 42 48
Rarely/never (NET)
34 35
Rarely 24
29
Never 10 6
TABLE 2
KEEPING UP WITH LATEST PRODUCTS
"Now, we'd like to you to tell us how often you do the following."
Base: All Adults
GLB Heterosexual
% %
Always/often (NET)
17 15
Always 7 2
Often 10 13
Sometimes
57 59
Rarely/never (NET) 27
26
Rarely 25 23
Never 2 3
TABLE 3
ORDERING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BY BRAND NAME
"When you order
mixed drinks away from home, do you purchase or order a
specific brand of alcohol, or do you just
mix or order the drink you want
without regard to the brand?"
Base: Adults aged 21 and over
GLB Heterosexual
% %
Often/Always order
alcoholic beverage
by brand name (NET) 36 28
With mixed drinks, I always order an
alcoholic beverage by brand name
28 18
With mixed drinks, I often order an
alcoholic beverage by brand
name 9 10
Sometimes/Never order alcoholic beverage
by brand
name (NET) 43 41
With mixed drinks, I sometimes
order an
alcoholic beverage by brand name 17 20
With
mixed drinks, I never order an
alcoholic beverage by brand name 26
21
I do not consume alcoholic beverages 21 31
TABLE 3
INFLUENCE ON DECISION MAKING
"Assume
you have an interest in a specific product or service.
Please rank the statements from 1 to 5 where
1 is most important and 5 is
least important..
They include refusals
to be interviewed (non-response), question wording and
question order and weighting.harrispollonline
.com.com
Jake Stafford
Witeck-Combs Communications
202-887-0500 ext. Acquisition
Substantially Increases PlanetOut's Position in the Estimated
$65 Billion Gay and
Lesbian Travel Market
SAN FRANCISCO, PlanetOut Inc.
RSVP joins PlanetOut and its
established audience of LGBT consumers served
by the company's award-winning travel content, including
dedicated channels on
its flagship Web sites Gay.hivplusmag. For more information, please
visit
http://www.3 trillion
U.S.people lesbian
The survey was
conducted online between December 8 and 15, 2004 by
Harris Interactive(R), a
worldwide market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck
-
Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing
communications firm with
special expertise in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender market. Please rank in
order
of importance the factor that most influences your likelihood to
consider that company's products
or services, when you see an advertisement. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for
respondents
' propensity to be online. (http://www. With over nine years experience
in this unique market, Witeck
-Combs Communications has developed respected
relationships throughout the community and serves as
a bridge between
corporate America and gay and lesbian consumers.
About Harris Interactive
(R)
Harris Interactive Inc.com), the 15th
largest and fastest-growing market research firm
in the world, is a Rochester,
N.novatris.com), a
Reston, Virginia-based research and consultancy
firm ranked 25th largest in
the world, and through an independent global network of affiliate market
research companies. EOE M/F/D/V
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited
to
participate in future online surveys, visit http://www.5 million in cash plus up to $3.com, as
well as the travel
magazine, The OUT Traveler.
About PlanetOut Inc. and
Triangle Marketing
Services. PlanetOut, based in San Francisco with additional
offices in New York, Los Angeles, London
and Buenos Aires, offers FORTUNE 1000
and Global 500 advertisers access to what it believes to be
the most extensive
network of gay and lesbian people in the world.
Note: The estimated
$65-billion-a-year gay and lesbian travel market
projection is based on Community Marketing, Inc
.
people gay
ROCHESTER, N.Y. Seventeen percent of GLB
adults also state that they always or often
"tend to upgrade to the latest
model or version of a product," while 15 percent of their heterosexual
counterparts do the same. When ordering mixed drinks, 36 percent of GLB
respondents aged 21 and
over say they always or often specify the alcoholic
brand name, contrasted with 28 percent of non
-gay respondents aged 21 and
over.
These latest findings corroborate what earlier studies by
Witeck-Combs
Communications and Harris Interactive revealed -- particularly research
conducted
in May 2001 which concluded that 48 percent of GLB respondents
"trust brands more if they are manufactured
by companies that have progressive
policies towards gay and lesbian employees." One-third (33%) of
gay adults
also agreed with the statement that they trust brands more if they incorporate
gay
or lesbian images into their advertising.
* Half (51%) of the GLB people polled find advertising
that is
informative, funny or witty and includes images of gay and lesbian
people
either the most important or a very important factor that
influences their likelihood to consider
a company's products or
services.
* The most common ways GLB adults become aware
of a company's reputation
for gay-friendliness is by word of mouth (45%), gay websites (29
%) or
gay magazines or newspapers (29%). I tend to
upgrade to the latest model
or version of a product..
Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and income were weighted
where
necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the
population. Unfortunately
,
there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that
are probably more
serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. queried gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered
(GLBT) self-identified respondents. Although we
remain interested in the consumer attitudes and characteristics
of
transgendered individuals, for accuracy and consistency we distinguish sexual
orientation from
gender identity.
Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. In April 2003, American
Demographics magazine
identified Bob Witeck and Wes Combs as two of 25 experts
over the last 25 years who have made significant
contributions to the fields
of demographics, market research, media and trendspotting for their
pathbreaking
work on the gay and lesbian market.Y.com), Paris-based
Novatris (http://www.com), Tokyo-based Harris
Interactive Japan,
through newly acquired WirthlinWorldwide (http://www.
(1) Harris Interactive
(R) conducted this online survey in the U. Not only does the acquisition connect RSVP's
trusted gay
and lesbian travel marketing platform with PlanetOut's print
properties, it also addresses advertisers
' desire to target the LGBT market
with multi-media, multi-platform marketing and sponsorship programs
.rsvpvacations. is the leading global media and entertainment company
exclusively serving the lesbian
, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
community.
PlanetOut brands also include The Advocate (http:
//www.com.sec.gov. travel industry as stated by the Travel Industry Association of America.lesbian people
A community sponsored library.
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