National Poll Reveals That Millennials are the Most Uncomfortable Generation

NIWOT, Colo., Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The millennial generation (Ages 18-32), often described as self-centered and brash, is not as comfortable as one might think.  According to a national Wakefield Research survey of 1,000 adults and sponsored by Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX), roughly one-in-three (34-percent) Millennials experiences more than three uncomfortable social situations per week.

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Seasoned at powering through, 80-percent of Millennials find it acceptable to lie in order to avoid embarrassment, 46-percent fake cell-phone calls to dodge awkward moments, and when caught in embarrassment, 44-percent of Millennials blame someone else.  On the flipside, the majority (55-percent) of Baby Boomers rarely experience awkward moments, with no uncomfortable situations during an average week.

The survey shows the degree to which discomfort permeates peoples' lives, underscored by 65-percent of respondents wanting a comfort national holiday.   In a call-to-action, Crocs declares September 28^th as the first International Comfort Day encouraging guests to "Try on a Pair" for a 20% percent discount.  Social media initiatives include the first 25 people to re-tweet a friend at #getcomfy will both receive a pair of free Crocs™ shoes, as well as a tasty comfort recipe shared by Crocs @ Work™ spokesperson, chef Mario Batali.  Crocs Cares^SM will also be donating 15,000 pairs of Crocs™ shoes to help spread some comfort to individuals–in-need.   International Comfort Day will be celebrated globally at Crocs retail stores in the Americas, EU and Asia.  

For Crocs President and CEO John McCarvel, the poll served multiple purposes. "This is an entertaining yet scientific way for Crocs to associate itself with three of the brand's biggest selling points: being comfortable, fun, and a little bit different," says McCarvel. "The poll tells a compelling story. It vividly and statistically defines the genders and generations of adults who feel most comfortable with themselves. That story can initiate lively conversations while serving as a launching-off point for International Comfort Day, which will provide all of us with a breather from the stresses of everyday life."

These additional findings highlight the Crocs study:

• Gender Gap: The majority of women (72-percent) think it's acceptable to tell a lie to avoid uncomfortable situations vs. a lower percentage of men (56-percent).
• Sweet 16: While 16 ranks as the average age during which Americans' awkward-years peak, more than one-quarter of these adults (28 percent) feel that they are still in their awkward stage.
• Gaff Guide: In dealing with embarrassing moments, 33-percent are the "I'm sorry" Apologizers; 22-percent play the Class Clown by making jokes; 21-percent are Over Lookers, pretending it never happened and 6-percent make like Ghosts who quietly leave the room.
• Oops! More than half (55-percent) are more uncomfortable having someone tell them their fly is down vs. telling someone else that theirs is down.  The most embarrassing date snafu guys have experienced is passing gas (38 percent); for women, it's spilling food on themselves (40-percent).  Only 12-percent of Americans have had their credit cards declined while on a date.
• Relationship Revelations: Among those who feel comfortable in a relationship, 57-percent of men feel comfortable in less than a month vs. 59-percent of ladies who say it takes more than a month.  However, 19-percent of Americans never get comfortable.
• Head to toe Comfort: More than half (52-percent) of women frequently sacrifice comfort for fashion when it comes to footwear.  42-percent of working Americans are not completely comfortable with the clothing that they wear to work. The top three comfortable shoes according to women: sneakers other than running shoes (36-percent), flip-flops or sandals (28-percent) and flats (19-percent).
• Work it! 65-percent of working Americans have experienced at least one uncomfortable moment on the job.  Two-in-five (40-percent) endured a coworker over sharing personal information.  Only 13-percent accidentally forwarded personal emails to coworkers.

The Crocs Survey was conducted online by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults, ages 18+, between July 25th and August 1st, 2013. Quotas were set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. adult population 18+. The margin of error for the study is 3.1 percentage points.  

About Crocs, Inc.
Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) is a world leader in innovative casual footwear for men, women and children with more than $1 billion in annual revenue. The company offers several distinct shoe collections with more than 300 four-season footwear styles. All Crocs™ shoes feature Croslite™ material, a proprietary, revolutionary technology that gives each pair of shoes the soft, comfortable, lightweight, non-marking and odor-resistant qualities that Crocs wearers know and love. Crocs fans "Get Crocs Inside" every pair of shoes, from the iconic clog to new sneakers, sandals, boots and heels. Since its inception in 2002, Crocs has sold more than 200 million pairs of shoes in more than 90 countries around the world.

To find a Crocs store location near you, search our over 200 store locations throughout North America at http://www.crocs.com/crocs-store-locator/stores,default,pg.html.

Get social with Crocs – www.crocs.com, www.facebook.com/crocs, www.twitter.com/crocs, www.pinterest.com/crocs.

SOURCE Crocs, Inc.