Top 5 Things Gen Z Expects From Retailers Today

Top 5 Things Gen Z Expects From Retailers Today

by | Mar 28, 2022 | Industry Trends

What is Generation Z?

Generation Z is an important customer base for retailers. Gen Z is the generation after millennials and includes anyone born after 1997. There are several ways in which Gen Z is different from previous generations.

Gen Z lifestyle and habits artwork
(Source)

1. Gen Z are digital natives

Generation Z is more racially and ethnically diverse than previous generations. They are also on track to be the most well-educated generation so far. One of the biggest reasons that Gen Z is unique is because they are digital natives. This means that they have no memory of the world before the existence of smartphones.

As such, Gen Z prefers on-demand communication and entertainment. Members of Gen Z are heavy users of social media. They connect across multiple devices, such as phones, tablets, and laptops. Statistics show that 58% of Gen Z have bought something they found through social media.

Gen Z people using digital devices
(Source)

2. Gen Z has embraced social commerce.

It’s not just social media that’s important to Gen Z. Social commerce – the process of selling products on social media – is too. According to a Forrester report, 29% percent of people under 25 said they complete a purchase on a social network without leaving the mobile site or app at least once a week. Compare this with only 12% of people ages 45-54. 

They also experience brands across multiple channels. A Pew Research report shows that 85% use YouTube, 72% use Instagram, and 69% use Snapchat. TikTok has become increasingly popular among Gen Z. A recent survey showed almost 40% of Gen Z say they’re influenced by products they see on TikTok.

Gen Z woman with smartphone and credit card
(Source)

3. Gen Z are “always-on” purchasers.

Unlike other generations, those in Gen Z exist in an “always-on” technological environment. This means they are also “always-on” purchasers. A typical path for a Gen Z shopper might be like this:

  • They shop online, whether they are at school or home.
  • They see something they like but they don’t buy it yet.
  • They visit a brick-and-mortar store because they want the experience of browsing in the store.
  • They see an ad for that item on social media.
  • They buy that item through social media.
Gen Z consumer journey
(Source)

What is the value of Gen Z to retailers?

Gen Z means big business for retailers. According to Forbes, Gen Z represents an estimated $143 billion in annual spending power. Gen Z also makes up more than 40% of all US consumers. The digital-first world of Gen Z is a big influence on other consumers. This means that the digital-first world of Gen Z will become the new standard.

Five ways retailers can attract Gen Z consumers

1. Flexible financial payment options

Offering Buy Now Pay Later options is an important way to attract Gen Z consumers. According to NerdWallet, one in five 2021 holiday shoppers used Buy Now Pay Later. Twenty-two percent of those shoppers were members of Gen Z. 

Buy Now Pay Later appeals to Gen Z’s desire to purchase trendy items with easy-to-understand, no interest fee installments. It also appeals to Gen Z’s impulse to get those items immediately while they’re still “cool.” Giving Gen Z those options makes good business sense. In a PayPal and Netfluential study, 42% of merchants said that “buy now pay later” options reduce shopping cart abandonment.

Consider adding PayPal Credit which offers Buy Now Pay Later

2. Personalized experiences

Gen Z wants to feel “known,” not only seen and heard. This is why personalized product recommendations will attract Gen Z consumers.  According to an international study, 75% are more likely to buy a product if they can customize it. 

Care/of's personalized daily vitamin packs
Care/of‘s personalized daily vitamin packets customized for individual customers (source)

Forty-one percent of Gen Z will provide their data to businesses if they receive a personalized experience in return. This is an excellent way for retailers to gather customer data. It also helps businesses target their online sales and marketing tactics to Gen Z consumers. If retailers don’t make sure to capture the Gen Z audience they risk losing that customer base. Forty-one percent of Gen Z consumers will leave a website if it doesn’t predict what they like, want, or need.

3. Entertainment and engagement

The digital natives of Gen Z spend a lot of time on the internet, with 65% seeking entertainment there. Social media apps are one place where Gen Z finds entertainment. According to studies, 20% of Gen Z spends more than 5 hours a day on TikTok. Since Gen Z also loves personalized content, it makes sense that they will look for organic content while they are scrolling online. 

Kylie Cosmetics TikTok Shop
Kylie Cosmetics’ TikTok page with a built in catalog (source)

This desire for instant gratification means they want an easy, enjoyable shopping experience. Gen Z uses multiple channels for both entertainment and shopping. They also want their shopping experience to be frictionless across all of these channels. Gen Z loves to create so retailers should take advantage of this providing them with customizable content they can create and share.

4. Social responsibility 

Gen Z is more invested in social responsibility than previous generations. Their interest in social responsibility shows in their shopping habits. Seventy-two percent of Gen Z are more likely to buy from a company that contributes to social causes. Gen Z will also pay more for products they think are socially responsible. Sixty-four percent of Gen Z consumers are willing to pay a premium for grocery products that have sustainable packaging. 

There are many ways that retailers can make their businesses more sustainable. They can recycle old goods and source sustainable brands and products. Going paperless is a great way for businesses to reduce waste. Brick-and-mortar retailers can recycle old goods or even use refurbished or recycled materials for in-store displays and decor. Upcycling or donating unsold stock or samples are other ways that businesses can invest in sustainability. 

Retailers can find ways to reduce their carbon footprint in shipping and logistics. They can also give customers the option to choose carbon-neutral shipping options. Above all, retailers should set sustainability goals and stick to them. They should be transparent with their customers about their processes.

5. Authenticity

The nine drivers of authenticity
The 9 drivers of authenticity (source)

For Gen Z, authenticity is more than a buzzword, it’s a way of life. Gen Z wants a quality product with positive online ratings and reviews and good customer service. They also want to feel like they can trust retailers’ advertising practices. Eighty-two percent of Gen Z trusts a company more if the images they use in their ads are of actual customers. You can entice Gen Z customers by emphasizing that your brand stands for something beyond making a profit and seeks to improve the world in some way. Retailers who are transparent and share information about their business processes and how they operate will be able to attract Gen Z customers.


TAKU Retail can help you attract Gen Z customers by providing a seamless shopping experience. You can market your products on social media and meet Gen Z customers where they live without any extra effort – simply use your existing POS data automatically! Our customizable in-store and built-in e-commerce options will offer Gen Z the flexible omnichannel shopping experiences they want. TAKU Retail also offers live chat so that Gen Z can enjoy a more personalized shopping experience.

Easter Retail Marketing 2022

Easter Retail Marketing 2022

by | Mar 13, 2022 | E-commerce Tips, Industry Trends, Marketing Tips

Easter falls on April 17th this year. With many COVID-19 restrictions easing everywhere, shoppers are increasingly confident and energized about shopping now. Easter is the first big family holiday of the year. As a retailer, the holidays are a great marketing and sales opportunity. Here are 3 tips for Easter retail marketing this year.

1. Offer ready-to-go promotions and discounts to attract customers

Shoppers today expect convenience and curation when they buy. Make it easy for your customers to grab products without any extra effort. Even if you don’t specialize in chocolate or sell Easter-related products you can still offer a unique angle. Make promotions related to Spring-time activities such as: spring cleaning, spring weather, gardening, etc. Spring is the ideal season for launching new products and exclusives. The season is traditionally seen as a time of renewal and hope, making it the best time to launch new products!

Easter Retail Marketing from Save Loonie
Easter deals from Save Loonie

You can also tempt more shoppers into buying from you by:

  • Discounting your best-selling items with an Easter or Spring theme
  • Getting rid of your winter products through deep discounts on the items
  • Preparing small giveaway goodies that customers can get once their purchase reaches a certain amount of money – or if they purchase a product that’s being promoted

You can also set up a landing page or a section on your website / e-commerce site which will advertise these promotions. This way shoppers can easily browse through sale and seasonal items. TAKU helps you create a free micro-website or landing page. In our builder, you can create a beautiful SEO-optimized web page with custom colors, images, and content. The content can be linked directly to your Instagram Shop, Facebook Shop, Google store listings and even Messenger chat. The process will only take you 5 minutes to set up. Afterwards it runs on autopilot. Learn more here.

Hopebox’s Easter bundle (source)

2. Inspirational giveaways and contests

“Especially during COVID right now, we know that the shopper has been looking for different ways to be inspired — whether that be through recipes or activities or ways just to make ordinary moments more special…”

Lauren Foltz, senior manager of holistic shopper insights at Hershey. (source)
IKEA’s creative assemble-yourself chocolate bunny promotion (source)

Make YOUR consumer feel special by considering giveaways and / or social media contests. You can have customers sign up for these contests by agreeing to sign up for your mailing list or newsletter; two birds with one stone. This will then direct your followers from the online platform to your physical store. It can also increase your visibility on social media and make your store more recognizable. You could also create a short Easter game like a virtual egg hunt to make your promotions more fun. You can even encourage your customers to vote between products to learn their preferences so you can adjust your communications to match their needs. Then you can encourage the winners to share their prize or experience on social media for some good old word-of-mouth marketing. Remember, the goal with this year’s Easter retail marketing is to make your customers feel special.

Kanudle’s Easter giveaway promotion from 2020 (source)

You can use TAKU’s 360° real-time customer view to see your customers’ sales history in real-time so you can target a specific audience. If your customers are heavy social media users, use our built-in Facebook or Instagram feeds to sell directly to your followers. You can get a pretty clear overview of their total relationship with your business, across all channels, in store and online.

3. Launch remarketing campaigns for Easter retail marketing

How remarketing campaigns work for Easter Retail Marketing
How remarketing campaigns work (source)

Holiday retail marketing is a great opportunity to win back past visitors as well. You can use Facebook “retargeting” ads to attract old visitors back to your website. You will need to set up a Facebook pixel on your website to do this. The retargeting ads can showcase your Easter offers & promotions. You could also show different offers to people who have interacted with your website before. For the best results, retarget past website visitors who added items to their cart but never checked out. After all, nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned without finishing the transaction (source: Baymard Institute). You can also target shoppers who have engaged with you on social media during the previous weeks. In a nutshell, you want to get customers to come back and finish the sales they started.

TAKU can simplify this entire process for you. Our built-in abandoned cart saver will help you recapture those pesky cart abandoners! The entire automated process will leave you worry-free.

Experiential retail continues to grow in importance

The competition in physical retail grows daily. Experiential retail is a way for you to make your business stand out. Create unique and memorable in-store experiences by focusing on community, events, and your potential & existing customers’ interests. This way, instead of only aiming to increase sales revenue, you’ll also deliver enjoyable experiences that build brand affinity.

Hunter’s pop-up experience recreates Scottish countryside weather (source)

Let’s say you sell sustainably made cookware. You could create a community-building opportunity in store by hosting a mix-and-mingle experience with other businesses that create products for a similar audience. For example, you could invite a chef, a tableware brand, a local farmer, and a brand that makes 100% natural sauces or seasoning to participate in the event.

All the brands involved can display their products. So as the shoppers are experiencing the awesome products, they can also make purchases.

Depending on the point of sale (POS) used at your store, you can review your customer profiles to get an overview of purchase history and interests that can help inform your strategy to create the in-store experiences your customers are looking for.

Learn more by clicking above