"Buy- Cotting"

A new year always brings with it new marketing buzz words sure to be on the tip of trend watchers tongues. So in 2005 expect to hear more about "buy-cotting". Buy-cotting is the condition that occurs when consumers use their purchasing power to make political statements. Researchers have found that generation Y, those born in the late 1970's through the early -90's are the most socially conscience consumers and the first to embrace buy-cotting . Wait just a minute. I contest that we aging baby boomers initiated the buy-cotters bandwagon, our generation changed French Fries to Freedom Fries and patted ourselves on the back when we petered out the sale of anything French. While buy-cotting appears opposite of boycotting, in reality our purchases caused the American and Australian wine industries to boom while French wine sales plummeted. Give credit where credit is due. In 2005 we can expect to see more marketing focused on the advocacy consumerism movement especially the food industry. I'm Susan Allen and this is Food Forethought.