Understanding the Hispanic consumer has been a hot topic for marketers the past few years and companies large and small have spent millions on this effort. It’s not only Hispanics either, the current fad is to understand Gen Y consumers – the first generation to grow up with the Internet. But as an immigrant from Asia, I’m also trying to figure out White People. They represent the majority of my client base and referral partners. Not only that, since I’m married to a Caucasian woman, I’m trying to understand the family on that side too. Believe me it’s not an easy task.
You can imagine my joy when I came across the blog “Stuff While People Like“. It’s a gem of a blog with daily insights on white culture in America. It’s funny, but also very insightful. Apparently white people like the following:
#86 Shorts – After a prolonged cold snap, white people are very excited at the first hint of a warm day. It is their opportunity to go back outside, to enjoy nature and thrive.
#77 Musical Comedy – This style of humor involves a person or group singing a song but rather than singing about something serious, it has funny lyrics. It’s not any more complicated than that, but white people can’t get enough of it.
In order to get the most possible enjoyment out of these days, white people turn to one of their most trusted allies: shorts.
#83 Bad Memories From High School – The most time and cost efficient way of gaining a white person’s trust and friendship is to talk to them about their time in high school.
45 Asian Fusion Food – Fusion restaurants offer a mix of all Asian foods (except Indian, but most don’t know that India is part of Asia) in an atmosphere that resembles a cocktail lounge in the West Village as opposed to Hong Kong. Basically you can eat exotic, in comfortable surroundings. Many are not shy to admit that the food is subpar and overpriced, but they still line up for hours to get in because they love the decor and the mix drinks.
#27 Marathons – White people will train for months, telling everyone who will listen about how they get up early in the morning, they run when it rains, how it makes them feels so great and gives them energy.
# 15 Yoga – Although its origins are from India, one can find more yoga studios in white neighborhoods such as Kitsilano or Orange County than in Kolkata. Participation in this activity requires large amounts of money and time, both of which white people have a lot of.
#8 Barak Obama – Because white people are afraid that if they don’t like him that they will be called racist.
Visit the blog (there is a complete list so you can go directly to an item) and if you’re white you can figure for yourself how accurate it is, but for me it sure was a good read and I walked away with los of insights! 😉
