Dear bookseller

 

Here are some solid reasons why you should consider stocking the Two Irish Lads on your bookshelf.

• It is a unique work of fiction, being the first attempt to look at pioneer life from a gay perspective.

• As the recipient of both the iUniverse Editor's Choice and Publisher's Choice awards, you can be assured of its editorial integrity and quality of design.

• There are very few works of serious gay fiction written each year; therefore, the market for this type of work is almost non-competitive.

• Because of the above, and because gays and lesbians are very supportive of gay-content works of any kind (see below), there is also a ready market waiting to be served.

• Demographically and economically, this is a highly underestimated market that is waiting to be recognized.

For further information, contact the author at author@twoirishlads.net

 

Sincerely,

Gerry Burnie,

Author of Two Irish Lads.

 

 

 

The Gay Market in North America

 

365gay.com has this to say about it:

 

There are more than 35 million gays and lesbians in North America.

Altogether this represents $514 Billion (US) in spending power.

Gay and lesbian consumers are a very supportive and loyal market.

 

At ten per cent of the population, the Gay and Lesbian market represents the largest most affluent minority market in North America. 

 

More highly educated, occupying higher paying jobs, and possessing large disposable incomes, Gays and Lesbians represent a segment of the population which cannot be ignored. 

 

A marketing survey in the US by Simmons Market Research Bureau shows the annual value of the gay and lesbian market is in excess of $514 Billion (US).

 

Simmons found the Average household income for gay men was $52,624 (US) or 41% above national average.  Among lesbians it was $42,755 (26% above the national US average). 15% of the male households polled had an income over $100,000 (US).

62% of the men polled were college graduates, and 47% held managerial jobs.

 

The poll concluded that the gay and lesbian community represented the ultimate DINK (double income, no kids) market.

 

The publication Computer Economics projects that between 2001 and 2005, the number of gay and lesbian Internet users will grow from 13.5 million to 22.4.

 

In addition to the growth in gay and lesbian Internet users, the online population of users affiliated with the gay and lesbian community will grow rapidly in the next five years. Computer Economics estimates that family, friends, co-workers and others affiliated with gays and lesbians will total 28.5 million in 2001 and rise to 46.1 million by 2005.

 

"The online gay and lesbian community is growing at a much higher rate than the overall Internet population due to the privacy, relevant information, and virtual communities that are available online and are particularly attractive to gays and lesbians," said Computer Economics senior research analyst Catherine Huneke.

 

Wilde Marketing (Canada) estimates the current population of Canada as 31,413,990 people. Of those, 75% are 18 years or older. And while not scientific, estimating 5% of the general population as self-identifying as homosexual, gay or lesbian, the equation is 31,413,990 x .75 x .05 = 1,178,025 self-identifying gays and lesbians.

That unscientifically estimated figure is larger than the population of every province except Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia & Alberta. It is also larger than every city in Canada except for Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
 

 

Gay Demographic

 

 

 

 

Age
18 - 25   11%
26 - 35   28%
36 - 45   42%
46 - 65   19% *

* Red = 89%

 

Household Income ($US)
15K             7%
15 - 35K   16% 
35 - 50 K  17%
50 - 75 K   27%
75 - 100 K 16%                                                  
100K +       17%*

* Red =  93%

 

Education
High School           27%
Vocational/Tech    12%
University                39%
Graduate School   22%*

* Red = 61%