Today’s Millennial Pins: March 16, 2016

Good morning, it’s March 16, a Wednesday. Here are today’s pins.

location_pin_sphere_red Here’s something to watch: Starbucks stores in England are stocking up on emergency diaper kits, and training baristas to assist new parents. They’re heating up milk bottles, giving women a place to breastfeed and locating high chairs. It’s part of a new initiative to make Starbucks more parent friendly. Makes sense, as a large cohort of Millennials will become parents over the next five years.

location_pin_sphere_red Will Millennial women be more invested in their finances? The recent report showing Millennials are more engaged in finances also shows that women – at least inside the generation – are still behind men when it regards money. They’re more risk-averse (33 percent are willing to risk higher return, as opposed to 61 percent of men ), are not as financially literate (30 percent feel knowledgeable, as opposed to 57 percent of men), and they’re not yet saving like men (53 percent have started saving, as opposed to 71 percent of men).

location_pin_sphere_red Out in Silicon Valley, apartments are getting smaller as more Millennials populate the area. Apartment sizes, which were averaging nearly 1,000 square feet 10 years ago, are now back to around 900 and falling. Millennials apparently aren’t needing large kitchens or garages, and some even would rather not have large living rooms. For Millennials out there, homes are private sanctuaries away from the always-on workplace.

location_pin_sphere_red What are Millennial parents seeking in new products? A Houghton Mifflin Harcourt executive vice president writes that they want Utility, Authenticity and Authority. Utility means products that track, that leverage data – think Metric Parenting. Authenticity is obvious – no fake sell; give me something that makes me feel good about myself. And Authority – Millennials want to think they have the knowledge necessary to make an informed choice (through Yelp, Google, etc.).

location_pin_sphere_red Here’s the counter argument to Tuesday’s Pin on Millennial sitcoms, written on Red Alert Politics. The argument states these sitcoms – about characters independently searching for some meaning in life – aren’t portraying the reality of being a Millennial, as in living poor in a place that’s not Brooklyn. That’s valid – Baby Boomers had Norman Lear to write about many of the social difficulties facing that generation. But we’re also at the early stages of Millennial sitcom writing.

Plus, to be honest, there have been other accurate depictions of Millennial life on TV. “Community” showed us a variety of Millennial characters in a small part of the world struggling with a number of problems, among them a lack of money. “Parks and Recreation” gave us a few Millennial characters out in the Midwest, needing direction and – yes – not necessarily having money. In “New Girl,” the entire Millennial cast lives together in a shared space. And they hang at a bar. Doesn’t seem like they’re rich.

Anyway … there will be other depictions. We’re still in the early stages.

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