It's no secret that having friends is a good thing. From skipping across the school playground hand in hand to sharing clothes with our college bff, and being the maid of honor at each other's weddings, the friends women make and keep enrich their lives in so many ways. As girls grow up and become busy women with hectic lives, sometimes friendships suffer the consequences. A cancelled lunch date here and there, being too swamped at work to take a call, skipping girls night to come home and crash on the couch. While one's first inclination during a particularly stressful time might be self-imposed solitary confinement, it's actually better for her physical and mental health to spend this time with close girlfriends. A recently updated study (UCLA) found that when women are feeling stressed, their bodies are more likely to produce stress-fighting hormones when spending time and bonding with other women. Finally a solid argument for those Saturday shopping excursions!According to the research, close social ties (i.e. having bosom buddies) can reduce the risk of disease, lower cholesterol and blood pressure and increase lifespan! Even in times as difficult as the loss of a spouse, the women studied who had a close network of friends were able to come through the ordeal without loss of vitality.These findings should be considered very carefully by any organization for whom women are the target audience. Research on adult consumers suggests that adults who shop in groups may cover larger areas of stores, purchase more, and spend more money than when shopping alone. By creating an climate that is enticing to group shoppers and making them feel welcome, a company can benefit greatly! Group discounts, "bring a friend" incentives, and store-wide social events are just a few of the tactics that might help to establish an organization as a fun, friendly group shopping destination.
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