Shop with Pride!
Shop with Pride is a fundraising perks card designed to promote LGBT owned and LGBT friendly businesses in WNY. Click here for a complete list of participating businesses.
A new analysis of the American LGBT community shows that their collective buying power in 2008 is $712 billion. That figure is an increase from 2007's estimate of $690 billion (LGBT economic numbers are even more striking for the fact that they only cover self-identified LGBT adults 18 and over). The analysis, conducted by market research firms Witeck-Combs Communications and Packaged Facts. Witeck-Combs CEO Bob Witeck is quick to caution that the $712 billion figure is an estimate of collective purchasing power, not individual LGBT affluence. Anti-gay forces have long employed inaccurate portrayals of gays as wealthier-than-average to justify their opposition to LGBT civil rights.
"Buying power is not the same as affluence or wealth. No one should infer that same-sex households are more affluent than others," says Witeck, adding that academic research has shown that gay males' salaries may be somewhat less than their heterosexual counterparts'.
At the same time, LGBT individuals are less likely to have children and more likely, if coupled, to live in a two-income household, boosting their percentage of disposable income. Most importantly, they are more apt to spend that income on goods and services from companies they know are supportive of their gay employees and gay customers.
The LGBT community's brand loyalty is second to none. We are very conscious of which companies treat their LGBT employees fairly and which ones make sincere efforts to meet the needs of their LGBT customers. Based on the report done by Witeck-Combs Communications and Packaged Facts, 81% of LGBT Americans are likely to consider a business who supports non-profits or causes important to them. More so than anyone else, we vote with our wallets.
The Pride Center hopes to establish a lasting economic impact on our community with the Shop with Pride discount card. Let your business show that WNY is a safe and welcoming environment for LGBT individuals and families by joining us as a Shop with Pride business partner!
To purchase your Shop with Pride discount card or to find out how you can become a Shop with Pride business partner, contact the Pride Center today!
More inforamtion on the purchasing power of LGBT individuals can be found by visiting the NGLCC.
Pride Center of Western New York, Inc.
206 S. Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14201
P: 716-852-PRIDE
F: 716-847-0418
