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Does Dell Know What Women Want In a Laptop?

Posted by kdawson on from the fashion-don't dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "Finding the right approach for gender-specific marketing can be really tricky, said Andrea Learned, a marketing expert and author of Don't Think Pink — What Really Makes Women Buy. So when Dell recently took the wraps off a new Web site called Della, geared toward women, featuring tech 'tips' that recommended calorie counting, finding recipes, and watching cooking videos as ways for women to get the most from a laptop, a backlash erupted online, as both women and men described the Web site as 'ridiculous' and 'gimmicky.' Della's heavy emphasis on colors, computer accessories, dieting tips, and even the inclusion of a video about vintage shopping 'seems condescending to women consumers,' says Learned. Instead, Dell should have emphasized function and figured out ways to sell the netbooks that weren't clichéd and reliant on gender stereotypes. 'Some brands go too far with the girlie stuff,' Learned says. 'Della's marketing strategy sounds like it's advertising a purse. There's a level of consumer sophistication they're missing.'"

2 of 669 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by cayenne8 · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    "Just because they're true doesn't mean they want to be reminded about them. It's like telling that girlfriend she should go on a diet, or that she looks fat in those jeans."

    Err...what else are you going to do? Stand by in silence while she blimps out on you?

    Tell her like it is (there are more subtle ways that work without the direct confrontation you know). I mean, if she won't try to keep her looks for you, there are a dozen others out there waiting in line for you to hook up with that do keep up their looks.

    I mean, if I'm going to work to put forth the effort it takes to eat right, exercise and try to look decent...I'm not hanging around with anyone that isn't going to try to keep good looking to keep my interest 'up'...men are visual beings after all.

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  2. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by amn108 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Joke or not, some of us get plenty. All you need is to groom where and when grooming is due, use more of what universe has to offer besides silicon logic gates so as to stay social and interesting to anyone but other nerds, and last but not least, be horny from time to time :-) And no, admitting the last one alone does not help.

    And I have a beard and its shagalicious.

    P.S. Yes, it is most likely a joke, but it is so goddamn old one, I am not laughing anymore..