Marketing Forecast from Ad-ology

While a majority of adults plan on reducing debt and saving more in 2012, just one in seven adults (14%) agrees that they will seek professional help managing their finances. Those most likely to say that they will seek the help of a financial professional include parents (19%), college graduates (18%), those ages 30-44 (18%), and those with a household income of $50,000 or more (17%).

Consumers are concerned about what they eat and what they feed their children, but household budgets don’t always allow for paying a premium – whether it’s on branded or organic foods. After several difficult years during the recession, more consumers are paying extra to buy organic. In total, the industry is now valued at more than $28.6 billion.

Ford Motor Company recently took top honors for the second year in a row during the 16th annual Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards. Ford was a repeat winner in several categories; Hyundai was recognized for the first time. Even though industry volumes have been down the past few years, loyalty rates have continued to increase.

The peak time for toy sales remains the holiday season but consumers purchase these products at other times during the year. Not surprisingly, digital marketing is becoming increasingly important for parents as they research what their children ask for. And, new data indicates that marketers could boost results by shifting their ad strategies.

The relative economic situation of the nation’s nearly 10 million “highly” or “super” affluent consumers rebounded significantly in 2011 from its low point in the first half of 2009, according to new report from Packaged Facts. Affluent households overall more make up 20% of American households but control 51% of the nation’s household income. Households headed by Baby Boomers are by far the most significant generational segment of the affluent market.

Marketers in one of the fastest-growing consumer product categories will be funding ad campaigns and promotions at a blistering pace as they fight for market share this year. Some market watchers predict that Apple and Google are dominating the smart phone market. But competitors aren’t likely to yield so quickly as many operators understand that winning market share now could generate healthy revenue streams for decades to come.