Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends,americast.usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Thu, Oct 8 1992 Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 04:25:12 EDT Message-ID: 10-08 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update Oct. 8, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network GAYS COURTED BY TRAVEL INDUSTRY: The travel industry is courting homosexuals as never before. "Almost recession-proof," is how Andy Schmidel of RSVP Cruises describes the gay community. "And now everyone is jumping on the bandwagon." RSVP, the largest booker of all-gay tours, sold out all seven of its 1992 programs and launches the first gay-owned and operated cruise ship in December with its 51-cabin SeaSpirit. (For more, see special Gays package below.) BASEBALL LOSING APPEAL: Jon Mandel of Grey Advertising says baseball on TV has lost its allure. "When you get a 12 rating in prime time, you have to ask, `Why are we carrying baseball?' What's really scary is that the Braves, with superstation TBS' following, don't fall into the small market category," he said. Reasons vary for the tumble. Some say there are too many games on TV. Others say the game is too slow. RECREATIONAL VEHICLES HOT: More people are buying recreational vehicles. The Freedonia Group, Inc., reports 1.6 million recreational vehicles were sold in 1980. That jumped to 5.7 million in 1985 and 5.6 million last year. The group projects sales to top 10 million by the year 2000. VIDEO PRODUCT SALES UP: Retail sales have been flat lately, but sales of video products are hot. The Electronic Industries Association reports retail revenue is up just 3.8% this year from last year. But video revenue is up nearly 11%, according to the association. TREND IN JEWELRY: Before buying that next necklace or pair of earrings, take note of a fall trend reported by Trifari Fashion Jewelry. One theme, carried over from last year, is "fabulous fakes." They're the super-sized pearls and rhinestones never meant to be mistaken for the real thing. NECK COLLARS GAIN POPULARITY: Another jewelry trend is the "Monarch Story" - regal neck collars, long necklaces and pearl pendants that look as if they should be worn by a princess. Many involve purple and blue zircon stones with accent pearls. And, as you might guess, they are best worn for evening. MARGARINE LATEST `BAD' THING: Last week milk was under attack. This week it's margarine. The American Dietetic Association says "People are so weary of conflicting information ... they're saying `Forget it.' " Margarine is under fire now because it raises the "bad" cholesterol in the blood. INVESTMEN TIPS GIVEN: The slow-growth, low-inflation 1990s will be no time to invest in companies that depend on price increases to boost profits. In a September report, Salomon Bros. highlights companies that should show revenue and earnings growth without higher prices. Look for stocks of companies that will introduce new products or win market share from competitors. UAL, Mattel and Apple are examples. INCUMBENT BETTER FOR STOCKS: Here's hot information for investors planning their investments around the election: No left-handed president has ever been re-elected. George Bush is a southpaw. His lefty predecessors: Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, James Garfield. The report, from Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette, notes that markets "have not done well in the year in which the incumbent party has lost." SPECIAL PACKAGE ON GAYS: NATION BRAGS ABOUT TOLERANCE: Gays are high on the marketing agenda of the travel industry. The Netherlands Tourist Board is targeting the gay market with ads, extolling that nation's legendary tolerance for alternative lifestyles. Gaylord's Travel Club, a newly formed, members-only organization, caters exclusively to gays and lesbians. The club has deals with 120 resorts and properties in Florida and the Caribbean. MORE GAY COUPLES SEEN: Gone, seemingly, are the days when gays headed exclusively to the resort areas known in the gay community. They're now going everywhere from Costa Rica to Turkey. Dan Ware of Chicago-based Toto Tours says his company enables gay groups to go places other than a "gay vacation ghetto." Noticeable change: Unlike the pre-AIDS '70s, many gay tours now are filled with mostly couples. UPSCALE CLIENTS TOUR WITH GAYS: "Money talks," says Fred Kohn, president of the International Gay Travel Association, which boasts 600 members, double the number a year ago. Many gay tour operators are now booking mainstream upscale resorts and cruises for a week, with first class accommodations in an all-gay setting. This new climate also allows gays to go into any agency without fear of discrimination. (End of package.) Trends & Marketing Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM