Close Up: Teen Sensations Entrepreneurs are getting younger every year.
By Devlin Smith
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Names: Elise and EvanMacmillan, co-founders of The Chocolate Farm, a Denver-basedproducer of such farm-inspired treats as Pigs in Mud and LemonSheep Munch
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Top Five Magazines ForTeens 1.Seventeen 2.YM 3.Teen People 4.Teen 5.GamePro Source: Folio | |||||
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Ages: 12 and 15
There's no denying the teen market is hot. Remember theMcDonald's commercials from the summer of Britney Spears and*NSYNC? But when it comes to reaching teenagers, businesses can bepretty clueless (how many more ads do we need to see with kidsbeing "real"?). These teen entrepreneurs provide insightinto Generation Next:
Know Why They Buy:"Teens buy things for the same reasons as anyone else-we needthe items. Sometimes we might want something more than we reallyneed it, to make ourselves or other people happy," saysEvan.
Lead Or Follow: "Manyteens look for situations [in movies or on television] in whichthey'd like to see themselves. They may choose to copy clothes,language or other aspects of these situations," says Evan."Other times they like to create their own look. Teens todayare not like a flock of sheep. They're very mediasavvy."
Set A Good Example: Elisebelieves alcohol and tobacco ads unfairly target teens: "Ithink these ads try to convince teenagers they can be more grown-upand have more fun if they use cigarettes and alcohol."
Laugh A Little: "I likeads that are funny so I remember them and maybe I'll talk aboutthem with my friends," Elise says. "Ads with actors whoportray unusual people can be funny and memorable."
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