Like we men really didn't know this (bling), women are now responsible for buying the majority of consumer electronics today. From computers to cell phones to high-tech TVs, a report shows that the ladies are in fact more plugged in (bling) than men are. Now more and more manufacturers are making products that cater to women. While you may have thought that men get googly-eyed by the hottest and trendiest gadgets, you may be surprised to learn that women accounted for the majority of the nearly $150 billion spent (bling) on consumer electronics last year alone!
"For a long time there's been a misconception that women don't like technology and we've really shown over the past several years that's just not true," says Megan Pollock of the Consumer Electronics Association. "If I had to choose between a piece of jewelry and an electronic gift, I would definitely do an electronic gift," says Stacey Smith, a shopper who admits her love for electronics (bling). Initially, manufacturers tried to woo women by making traditional gadgets pretty (bling); but while looks are important (bling), experts say it's not enough.
Some gizmos are actually designed to "fit" females better (bling), such as a phones with an auto focus at arm's length so women can take pictures of themselves (vanity) with friends. There's even a new laptop that accounts for longer fingernails. Are you freakin' kidding me? Belmont says such items "will just ergonomically be fit for women because usually they're a little bit more diminutive." Even today's flat screen technology comes in more female-friendly sizes. There are also devices to help hide or eliminate wires, and all-in-one systems to reduce clutter -- such as televisions with a built-in DVR.
We're going to continue to see people understand that all-in-one is important, and having accessories (bling), having add-ons (bling)," says Pollock. Some retailers are even designing stores to cater to women, with specially-trained assistants. I'm sure we'll be seeing Nordstroms carring a full line of diamond studded (bling), overpriced Motorola Razor phone soon. Heck, why not? That way women don't have to be seen walking into a small, lowly Verizon or Cingular (oops...they're gone), AT&T store!
The female frenzy is about efficiency and functionality (bling), which is good for everyone. Manufacturers stress that it's not about alienating men, but about including women, and understandably so (bling). Now what blew me away about this survey by the Consumer Electronics Association was that they found out that 64 percent of the women surveyed would pick a digital camera over comparably priced half-carat diamond stud earrings (bling). Oh come on now? Technology over jewelry? Technology over shoes? Technology over clothing? Technology over perfume? Technology over makeup? Technology over Bling?
I thought that bling was more important than anything. Today while surfing for a blog story, I found the most distressing toy that I’ve ever seen. It was called My Bling Bling. It’s hard to see here, but the hootchie doll pictured above has a backless shirt on, glitter lipstick, a rhinestone belly ring (bling), and more bling bling than a hooker in a rap video. And the best part is that the box states that this doll is for ages 6 and up. What kind of world are we growing up in whereby we want to give our kids a hooker to play with? I mean…at least Barbie wasn’t marketed as being a hootchie. She actually WAS a hootchie, mind you. She just wasn’t marketed as such. But this doll disturbs me with it’s obvious message that little girls need to learn how to get their bling! But this hootchie doll has technology too...check out her cell phone and the rest of her accessories! Ahhhhhh, start those kids early! Those American Girls (bling)!Ladies and Gentleman, amy I introduce to you - the gadget geekettes. God help us all! Bling, bling, bling, bling, bling, bling, bling, bling, bling, bling, bling, bling, bling!
