| Just two months ago, a group of mothers from three | | | | was the way to go.A Gen Y mom used |
| generations (Gen Y, Gen X and Baby Boomer | | | | hand-me-down bedroom furniture, rather than shopping |
| demographics) shared their buying habits with retailers | | | | at a furniture store for her baby and put the rest of |
| and manufacturers on purchasing childrens bedroom | | | | the items that she needed on her gift registry. The |
| furniture and baby products. This occurred at the fifth | | | | items she did not receive as baby gifts she purchased |
| annual Kids Today conference in Bonita Springs | | | | at Target and Kmart. She did however find a lot of |
| Florida.Author and entrepreneur Maria Bailey, an | | | | her ideas (such as themes for luxury baby bedding) at |
| executive in the fields of publishing, marketing, and | | | | a boutique. She said she would purchase only |
| business development, was the keynote speaker at | | | | bedroom accessories, baby bedding, other items that |
| the conference and a moderator for the panel. Maria | | | | she thought were original at a boutique or baby |
| Bailey has worked for numerous companies, including | | | | shops.Although most of the parents claimed that they |
| Automation USA, AutoNation, Discovery Zone, The | | | | mostly shopped at discount stores, they admittedly |
| Miami Herald, Broward Community College, and | | | | would make more extravagant purchases like luxury |
| McDonald's. Her experience as an executive and the | | | | baby bedding or hard-to-find toys at baby boutiques if |
| mother of four young children led her to specialize in | | | | there was something they really wanted for there kid. |
| assisting mothers in balancing their home and work | | | | A Gen X mom talked about children strollers. She paid |
| lives. Bailey explained the importance of marketing to | | | | $300 for a stroller because she liked the features. |
| mothers of different ages.Even though there were | | | | Then a Gen Y mom said she paid about $200 for a |
| some differences there were also many similarities. | | | | hard-to-find toy that retails normally for about $50. She |
| One baby boomer said she found information from | | | | said she bought the toy not only because her son |
| other mothers quite useful. She tried shopping for | | | | wanted it, but because of the educational value. |
| childrens beds and other bedroom sets for her boys | | | | Parents are willing to spend more money on |
| baby nursery at a baby boutique or a shop for kid | | | | educational toys.All moms stressed importance on |
| furniture and found it was above her budget. She | | | | bedroom furniture that would grow with their children. |
| registered for designer baby bedding at one baby | | | | One baby boomer mom said she was in the process |
| boutique but this particular parent found that shopping | | | | of looking for a bed that would take her toddler |
| at a consignment shop for her boys bedroom furniture | | | | through high school. |