This is an incredible time, a dynamic period in Asian marketing. From automobile and telecommunications companies, to banks, spirits and consumer goods companies, marketers are beginning to tap into the Asian market with great success.
What makes the Asian market so lucrative is its enormous buying power and population growth fueled by immigration. There are over 12 million Asians in the U.S. who have spending power of over $340 billion. In key states such as California, Asians represent over 12% of the state’s total population. Over 30% of San Francisco is now Asian, as is over 10% of Los Angeles and New York City.
The per capita income of Asians is highest among all ethnic groups. It is double that of Latinos and nearly double that of African-Americans. Asians also have the highest median household income of over $55,000 and highest education level with 44% of Asians age 25 or older having a college degree. The average household size of Asians is 3.8 people per household. Over one million Asian businesses generate over $300 billion in revenues. Among ethnic groups, Asians have the highest rate of business growth and have the largest employee base per business.
The Asian market is also very cost effective and easy to reach. Ninety-five percent of all Asians live in urban areas and close to 70% are foreign-born. They rely heavily on their in-language media to gain information. The combination of the low cost of media and the lack of media competition makes penetrating this market segment truly cost effective and efficient for marketers. For example, in the general market in Los Angeles, it costs an average of $1,000 to reach 1,000 customers via TV. In the Asian market, it costs only $8 to reach 1,000 people. This is why the Asian market is sometimes referred to as the "hidden gold mine."