The Cultural Shift in our Midst

BoBos - Creative Class - Young Affluents

The SF Chronicle had an article in yesterdays' STYLE section that talked about something I've (and many others) have blogged on in the past: a cultural shift that has already happened all around us in American Majority Culture. David Brooks calls this new socio-economic trans-cultural group BoBos (or Bourgeois Bohemians). Characterized by creativity, communally driven, affluent yet seeking to spend their money in non-flashy or bling-bling ways, and strongly socially conscious - they have and continue to transform the way that our economy, school, media and religious communities are functioning.


The article talks about the influence of this emerging group on the Hotel Industry, as they are seeking quality without the formality, flexibilty with the things that they demand.

I'm inserting a quote from the best portion of the article below:

"Danziger calls Generation Xers and Millennials "young affluents" and said her market research shows that this age group's wants and desires will have a major impact on shaping the luxury market worldwide, from the United States and Europe to Brazil and China.
One of the driving forces behind the demand for experiential travel and casual luxury in this age group and economic bracket is simple, Danziger said in a telephone interview. This generation is as wealthy as the Boomer generation, but is at a different life stage. They're younger and more active, or may have children in tow.
"They're engaged in 'we-think' - putting the needs of families first - rather than 'me-think,' which considers the needs of the parents as individuals, so casual luxury is important," Danziger said.
As people become tired of acquiring possessions, they are turning toward "experiential consumerism" in a relaxed, not frigidly formal, manner, she says."

You can read the whole article HERE.