SPECTRA SPOTLIGHT: Self-Poppers

Whether Mom’s at the stove while the VCR is on pause or nuking up an afternoon snack in the kitchen at work, unpopped popcorn is a family affair: Heavy users are overwhelmingly working parents with kids at home.

They’re juggling craftsman, service, or professional jobs with home-improvement projects and fishing and camping trips. And they’re above-average magazine readers who tune in to a variety of music stations during the day.

That’s the unpopped popcorn consumer profile synthesized by Chicago-based Spectra using ACNielsen, MRI, and Simmons data. If you want to grab these consumers’ attention, tune them in over the new-music airwaves and turn on their kids.

AGE AND DEMO

18-34 with kids in working class and rural areas, and 35-54 with kids in all neighborhoods

Housing: Own home

Occupation: Professional/managerial, craftsman/operator, service

Car rental: Alamo, Budget

Potato chips: Pringles, store brand

Credit card: American Express Corporate, Mastercard debit

Catalogs: J.C. Whitney, Spiegel

Hotel/Motel: Westin, Radisson

Leisure activities: Flying kites, videogames, making models, zoo visits

Sports participation: Swimming, horseback riding, bicycling, skiing

Sports attendance: High school soccer, baseball, hockey

Sports viewing: Tractor pulls, mud racing, motorcycle racing, wrestling

Radio formats: Country/western, golden oldies, religious

Cable networks: Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel

Books: Children’s books, dictionaries, encyclopedias

Athletic shoes: Vans, Airwalk, LA Gear

Cigarettes: Non-filtered, high-tar

Internet: America Online, Microsoft Network, Prodigy

Newspapers: Classifieds, movie listings

Gum: Carefree Bubble Gum, Trident Bubble Gum, Mint-a-Burst

Public conscience: School board, volunteering, fundraising

Family restaurants: Ryan’s, El Chico, El Torito

Fast food: Chuck E. Cheese’s, Taco John’s, A&W, Pizza Hut

TV programs: Winnie the Pooh, Boy Meets World, Step by Step

Source: Spectra Marketing using ACNielsen, MRI, Simmons data