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