We share our research-inspired consumer insights whenever asked. Below is a sample of where we have been appearing in the news.
We also write an Op/Ed series called "Viva the Vital," which is running initially in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, a Media General property and
is now being syndicated across the country.
To read the articles click here.
November 22, 2011
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
SIR conducts benchmark survey of 5,000 Virginians for the Older Dominion Partnership. Most Virginians perceive their quality of life as good, though many feel that their community is not prepared for the doubling of the senior population. Read the article (101k, PDF). |
May-June 2011
Florida CPA Today |
Rachel Burgess, project director at the Southeastern Institute of Research (SIR), offers five rules for managing today’s multi-generational workforce (Millennials, Gen Xers, Baby Boomers and the Silent generation). More and more organizations are using generational research in the workplace. The Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) recently engaged SIR to conduct their 2010 Membership Survey, helping the Institute appreciate generational difference and expectations regarding member benefits. Read the article (4.8m, PDF) |
May 20, 2011
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Attendees at the Age Wave Summit, organized by the Older Dominion Partnership and held in Henrico County, Virginia, were encouraged to have a plan within the next five years to address the doubling of the 65 + population by 2030. Findings from the 2011 Statewide Age Ready Indicators Survey, which was conducted by the Southeastern Institute of Richmond, show that only one-third of boomers feel financially prepared for retirement and less than one-third feel their region is prepared for the age wave. Read the article (5.2m, PDF) |
March 22, 2011
USA Today |
Regrets? Boomers have a few. Although Boomers knew deep down they should had taken better care of their finances and their heath 10 and 20 years ago, they regret now that they did not. Many boomers will be pressed to have encore careers to make their savings stretch, requiring the stamina of good health from exercise they have not been getting. Read the article (875k, PDF) |
March 9, 2011
Wall Street Journal |
Television's Senior Moment. TV's audience is getting older with the average prime time TV view turning 51 this year. Advertisers beware, don't lose this market. Read the article (2.6m, PDF) |
June 28, 2010
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Boomer Dad to Millennial Grad: Listen Up! In an op-ed piece, John Martin offers boomer parents 10 guiding principles -- "new rules" -- to share with their newly minted millennial generation graduates for their next phase of life. Read the article (46k, PDF) |
June 28, 2010
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Former VCU president, Eugene P. Trani, has started a nonprofit, privately funded think tank, Richmond's Future, to explore critical issues for the future of Richmond. Roughly 70 corporate and institutional leaders have said they will serve as directors or members of the group's research and advisory panels. John Martin will serve on the group's Research Council. Read the article (179k, PDF) |
April 9, 2010
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
At the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, John Martin spoke on behalf of STIR, Sustainable Transportation Initiative of Richmond. The group advises the region to adopt energy-efficient modes of travel and "envisions an integrated system that would include a variety of transportation options." Read the article (92k, PDF) |
September 22, 2009
Fredericksburg.com |
In a telephone survey of residents in Caroline, Fredericksburg, King George, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, it was found that a third of residents would support the introduction of tolls or fairs as a way to raise funds for transportation. A second group, about a quarter of Fredericksburg’s residents, said that funds could come from new taxes. The purpose of the survey was to primarily determine public awareness of a long-range transportation plan for the Fredericksburg area in 2035, published earlier this year. Read the article (48k, PDF) |
May 21, 2009
Charlottesville Daily
Progress |
A tanking economy and aging population will result in a new frugality with intergenerational households, changes in transportation modes and more seniors spending their final years at home, a Richmond-based researcher warns. Read the article (233k, PDF) |
March-April 2009
Richmond's Boomer
Life |
Boomer bands tend to have better equipment, play more optimistic music, write their own music, and pay closer attention to their health than their younger counterparts. Read the article. (PDF) |
December 12, 2008
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Frugality cited as a trend for Boomers. John Martin speaks to the Older Dominion Partnership about the economic downturn and "new frugality." Read the article. (PDF) |
December 4, 2008
The Free Lance-Star |
What's on the road ahead? John Martin describes to George Washington Regional Commission staff how technology-savvy Generation Y will affect commuting and workplace expectations in the future. Read the article. (PDF) |
June 2008
Stores |
Boomers dominate the U.S. retail marketplace and spend an estimated $2.3 trillion on consumer goods and services annually, yet few retailers fully appreciate today's older boomer consumer says Matt Thornhill, president and co-founder, of the Boomer Project . Read the article. (PDF) |
May 22, 2008
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Affordable housing ranks about as important as protection of the environment according to a study conducted by the Southeastern Institute of Richmond for the Greater Richmond Chamber. Read the article. (PDF) |
May 5, 2008
USA Today |
An online survey commissioned by First 30 Days and conducted by the Southeastern Institute of Research looks at 10 life events. If it seems tougher than in the past to deal with what life throws your way, you're not the only one who thinks so. Read the article. (PDF) |
May 1, 2008
Channel 12
Richmond, VA |
John Martin (SIR) and Shanika McClelland (GRTC) co-host GRTC's Life in Motion. This show is the second of a 2-part series on understanding our older population. John Martin shares how the Older Dominion Project will help Virginia ride the age wave when
Virginia’s 65-and-older population is expected to exceed 1.8 million by 2030, straining state and federal resources. Listen to the segment. (WMV, 28 min.) |
April 3, 2008
Channel 12
Richmond, VA |
John Martin (SIR) and Shanika McClelland (GRTC) co-host GRTC’s Life in Motion. This show is the first of a 2-part series on the topic of understanding our older population: personality traits, maintaining vitality, outlook on life, transportation, and steps in getting prepared for growing older. Listen to the segment. (WMV, 28 min.) |
March 28 , 2008
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Hard Questions for Boomers -- John Martin, Southeastern Institute of Research, presents findings at the Older Dominion Project's March 27 Research Event. Two research studies were conducted of Virginia residents and business leaders who expect to live long and stay in their homes to the end. Read the article. (PDF) |
December 11, 2007
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Virginia Boomers facing a crisis -- Expert says the Older Dominion Project aims to meet the health-care demands of an aging population at the project's December 10 kick-off event meeting. Read the article. (PDF) |
September 12, 2007
Washington Post |
Throwing the pitch toward a different target -- An interview with Matt Thornhill. "Once boomers hit about 50 and beyond...they are less interested in getting more stuff and more interested in having more experiences." Read the article. (PDF) |
July 25, 2007
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Top of the heap, not over the hill -- Boomers represent "500 pound canary" to two marketing experts. Read the article. (PDF) |
March 23, 2007
CBS6 Richmond, VA |
Transportation Solutions for Baby Boomers (part 2) -- John Martin, President & CEO of SIR interviewed on News 6 on transportation issues. Listen to the segment. (WMV) |
March 16, 2007
CBS6 Richmond, VA |
Transportation Challenges Facing Baby Boomers (part 1)
-- John Martin, President & CEO of SIR interviewed on News 6 on transportation issues. Listen to the segment. (WMV) |
November 18, 2006
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Expanded housing choices are sought
-- Elizabeth McLaughlin, chief operating officer of SIR spoke at the Greater Richmond Chamber's conference on workforce housing. Read the article. (PDF) |
November 13, 2006
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Smart Firms Will Learn How to Appeal to Over-50 Crowd -- The Boomer Project has delved deep into the boomer psyche and its findings provide clues about what boomers will see from the business world as we grow older. Read the article. (PDF) |
November 6, 2006
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Would you know how to take the bus if you couldn't drive? --
John Martin, SIR's president & CEO spoke at the AARP Virginia Mobility Conference in Richmond, VA on transportation, mobility, and aging. Read the article. (PDF) |
October 24, 2006
Southeastern
Newspaper Association |
"The Boomer Opportunity: #1 Target for Newspapers" --
The 78 million people who make up the Baby Boomer generation should be the number one target audience that newspapers focus on, according to John W. Martin, co-founder of The Boomer Project and president/CEO of Southeastern Institute of Research, Richmond, Va. Read the article. (PDF) |
April 6, 2006
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
67th Annual National Folk Festival in Richmond --
SIR poll finds 85 percent of the people who attended the 67th annual National Folk Festival in Richmond last October rated their experiences as very good, excellent, or outstanding. Read the article. (PDF) |
February 28, 2006
National TDM and
Telework Clearing-
House at UFC |
ACT Netconference on Boomers --
More than 200 people listened to John Martin and Matt Thornhill discuss the impact aging Baby Boomers will have on America's transportation system. Read the article. (PDF) |
January 4, 2006
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Employee Cost of Health Plans Vary -- SIR pays 100 percent of employee health benefits as health insurance costs increased by double-digits last year for the firm. Read the article. (PDF) |
Winter 2006
WORKMAGAZINE |
Innovators --
SIR has been the think tank behind a long list of major initiatives launched in Greater Richmond, in Virginia, and even across the nation. Read the article.
(PDF) |
January 23, 2005
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Closing gun show loophole backed. --
SIR poll finds most in region support bill requiring background checks. Read the article. (PDF) |
January 5, 2005
Washington Post |
Marketers in full bloom --
SIR’s Boomer Project helping retailers refit their appeal. Read the article. (PDF) |
October 7, 2004
Richmond.com |
The Young & The Restless --
SIR study sheds light into why today's young professionals are not staying in Richmond. Read the article. (PDF) |
September 29, 2004
Style Weekly |
Style Weekly Announces Top 40 Under 40 --
Elizabeth McLaughlin, SIR's COO, named to Style's "2004 Top 40 Under Forty." Read the article. (PDF) |
July 14, 2004
VA Newswire |
From Boomers to Zoomers --
The Southeastern Institute of Research, Virginia's oldest market research firm, is finding new life through expertise in everything from Baby Boomers to commuting patterns. Read the article. (PDF) |
June 22, 2004
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Is Richmond 'the city that fun forgot'? -- SIR taps into mindset of Metro Richmond's important "young and restless" segment. Read the article. (PDF) |
June 3, 2004
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Campaign Asks, Why Smoke? -- SIR hired to conduct Virginia's youth anti-smoking research. Read the article. (PDF) |
February 9, 2004
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
Staying Alive: Boomers Redefining America. -- SIR
launches the "Boomer Project" -- research think tank
for marketers targeting baby boomers. Read the article. (PDF) |
July 13, 2003
Richmond Times-
Dispatch |
"Veteran ad man takes over at SIR" --
John Martin is adamant about maintaining SIR's franchise as a major-league research organization. Read the article. (PDF) |
