Millennial Consumers - Understanding key trends driving consumer behaviours
Millennial Consumers - Understanding key trends driving consumer behaviours
SUMMARY
The millennial generation has been a much maligned one in terms of how the rest of society perceives it. However, the reality is very different from the perceived differences between it and the previous generations. Millennials want much of the same things in life; they haven’t changed that dramatically from other ages of people and still have the same basic needs and life goals. However, they do have unique circumstances that they have evolved into, such as the widespread use of technology allowing people to be online at all times, reduced disposable incomes and underemployment compared to previous generations and better education on lifestyle, health and ethics. Many of these factors have led to all kinds of unusual trends in the business world as companies adjust and try to maneuver to cater for any drop off in sales to young people. Sometimes though, many of the new products and changes we see are solving a modern problem that millennials have, rather than being something that millennials actually want. Fundamentally millennials want the same things in life and in many situations minor tweaks to products and brands can prevent millennials leaving companies behind.
KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED
The behavioral changes exhibited by millennials have also resulted in changing marketing strategies to appeal to them. Traditional methods are less effective, with personalization a key driver. This refers to both dictating their own experience with the product, and also using peer review (whether social networks or online reviews) to judge which product is best for them. Social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube have drawn the attention of companies, particularly in the fashion and beauty industry, as vloggers and streamers become the new gatekeepers to access millennials. In the videogames industry, platforms such as Twitch are thriving, and live streaming is another area in which companies can explore opportunities. As smartphones are now the primary point of online access for millennials, strong mobile marketing infrastructure is essential. Along with personalization, millennials like companies that take ethical issues seriously. However, companies must be prepared to back their campaigns, as L'Oréal divided its customers after it fired transgender model and political activist Munroe Bergdorf (a week after hiring her to improve diversity) due to her social media response to the Charlottesville march.
The millennial generation is proving to be a tricky group to cater to for many businesses. At face value, in the restaurant and food retail industry, millennials are good consumers of food products eating out regularly, ordering takeaways and cooking at home just as much if not more than the generations before them. However they tend to have completely different priorities (convenience and unique experiences for instance) and some established brands and food stuffs are suffering as a result of a stuffy outdated image or ineffective branding, when faced with competition from new brands more able to connect with the millennial generation. Finding ways to appeal to the specifics of the generation is not a tall order, but it may alienate brands from their traditional customers in process, so for many restaurant and food brands the transition is not a painless one.
News outlets abound with reports that various products are in decline due to disinterest from millennials; commentators cite a fundamental shift in attitude to ownership as the primary cause, but there is more to it. Whilst it is true attitudes among many millennials have shifted compared to previous generations, other causes such as necessity and economic conditions must at least rank alongside cultural developments to explain trends. Perceptions among millennials on what is required for an acceptable standard of living are forcing changes in ownership of certain product types (such as houses and cars) which were formerly a staple item for most people. Apocalyptic predictions of what may happen based upon millennial behavior may have some underpinning but can also be accused of missing the point that millennials are mainly reacting to a changing world.
SUMMARY
The millennial generation has been a much maligned one in terms of how the rest of society perceives it. However, the reality is very different from the perceived differences between it and the previous generations. Millennials want much of the same things in life; they haven’t changed that dramatically from other ages of people and still have the same basic needs and life goals. However, they do have unique circumstances that they have evolved into, such as the widespread use of technology allowing people to be online at all times, reduced disposable incomes and underemployment compared to previous generations and better education on lifestyle, health and ethics. Many of these factors have led to all kinds of unusual trends in the business world as companies adjust and try to maneuver to cater for any drop off in sales to young people. Sometimes though, many of the new products and changes we see are solving a modern problem that millennials have, rather than being something that millennials actually want. Fundamentally millennials want the same things in life and in many situations minor tweaks to products and brands can prevent millennials leaving companies behind.
KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED
- What products do millennials favor?
- Why do millennials favor and purchase the types of products that they do?
- How are they different from previous generations?
- How is this affecting the food, marketing, technology and retail industries worldwide?
- Learn about the key drivers behind millennial consumer behaviour and how companies are learning to tailor their products to suit.
- Examine which types of industries and businesses are doing particularly well with millennials and which are not.
- See how millennial consumer behaviour is changing our highstreets and online spaces.
The behavioral changes exhibited by millennials have also resulted in changing marketing strategies to appeal to them. Traditional methods are less effective, with personalization a key driver. This refers to both dictating their own experience with the product, and also using peer review (whether social networks or online reviews) to judge which product is best for them. Social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube have drawn the attention of companies, particularly in the fashion and beauty industry, as vloggers and streamers become the new gatekeepers to access millennials. In the videogames industry, platforms such as Twitch are thriving, and live streaming is another area in which companies can explore opportunities. As smartphones are now the primary point of online access for millennials, strong mobile marketing infrastructure is essential. Along with personalization, millennials like companies that take ethical issues seriously. However, companies must be prepared to back their campaigns, as L'Oréal divided its customers after it fired transgender model and political activist Munroe Bergdorf (a week after hiring her to improve diversity) due to her social media response to the Charlottesville march.
The millennial generation is proving to be a tricky group to cater to for many businesses. At face value, in the restaurant and food retail industry, millennials are good consumers of food products eating out regularly, ordering takeaways and cooking at home just as much if not more than the generations before them. However they tend to have completely different priorities (convenience and unique experiences for instance) and some established brands and food stuffs are suffering as a result of a stuffy outdated image or ineffective branding, when faced with competition from new brands more able to connect with the millennial generation. Finding ways to appeal to the specifics of the generation is not a tall order, but it may alienate brands from their traditional customers in process, so for many restaurant and food brands the transition is not a painless one.
News outlets abound with reports that various products are in decline due to disinterest from millennials; commentators cite a fundamental shift in attitude to ownership as the primary cause, but there is more to it. Whilst it is true attitudes among many millennials have shifted compared to previous generations, other causes such as necessity and economic conditions must at least rank alongside cultural developments to explain trends. Perceptions among millennials on what is required for an acceptable standard of living are forcing changes in ownership of certain product types (such as houses and cars) which were formerly a staple item for most people. Apocalyptic predictions of what may happen based upon millennial behavior may have some underpinning but can also be accused of missing the point that millennials are mainly reacting to a changing world.
Executive Summary
Millennials & marketing: Influencers become critical to success
Restaurants & Food Retail: Millennials have specific requirements when it comes to food
Millennials & Ownership: Generation cares less about ownership, but predictions of doom are exaggerated
Millennials & Activities: Happy to spend on activities and prioritize experiences
Millennials & Technology: E-commerce and sharing apps prosper at expense of traditional outlets
Millennials & marketing: Influencers become critical to success
Personalization of experiences works with millennials
Instagram and YouTube have become powerful marketing tools
Weibo and WeChat also significant in China
User generated content can help brand make inroads
Starbucks, and Urban Outfitters have good UGC strategies
User generated content has pitfalls
Influencers are also a good entry point for millennials
YouTube lookbooks and sponsored content an entry point
Fashion Nova employed Instagram influencers to great success
Instagram model reveals depths of marketing strategies
Live streaming offers cheaper way to authenticate influencer
Twitch has potential to expand beyond gaming roots
China is ahead of the curve for live streaming
Regulatory crackdown has not dimmed investor spirits
Mobile infrastructure significant to millennials
Ethical stances more important to millennials
Rising tide of SMEs with outwardly socially conscious objectives
L'Oréal divided its customers over Munroe Bergdorf incident
Restaurants & Food Retail: Millennials have specific requirements when it comes to food
Healthy and ethical foods are more important for this generation
Fast casual shows just how important convenience is for millennial customers
Introducing new fashionable ingredients to remain on trend
New ordering tech and home delivery very useful for businesses
Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat have brought restaurant food to the home
Money is a big issue for millennials as they are underemployed and have less disposable income
Millenials care less about ownership, but predictions of doom are exaggerated
Fewer homes are purchased by millennials, but many still harbor desires to become home owners
Culture of millennial car ownership is slipping under weight of economic pressure
Millennials are leading society to entertainment free of ownership
Music has been transformed by millennials uninterested in ownership, creating new players
Attracted by low costs, millennials are using Uber to get about, but impact on taxi market varies
Millennials & Activities: happy to spend on activities and prioritize experiences
Cost is a major driver of purchasing choices, because of lower wages
Millennials are not willing to accept worsened quality of life despite less disposable income
It has been identified that millennials are more willing to spend on the “authentic” experience
Festivals and day events really connect with millennials and numbers are booming
Holidays with millennials are less traditional and tend to favor “instagramable” experiences
Attracting millennials to hotels is entirely possible with some changes
Unique experiences of all types can help to sell to millennials
Technology: e-commerce and sharing apps prosper at expense of traditional outlets
Millennials are extremely online
Millennial online habits reflected in e-commerce
Online retail continues to grow
Apparel the main beneficiary
Traditional retail outlets losing ground
Department stores suffering in both US and UK
Selfridges invests online in attempt to adapt
Apps facilitate cheaper sharing services in austere age
Sharing economy apps have potential to grow
Companies that prioritize convenience and price succeed
Tech startups generally lead to aggressive expansion
Sharing economy has led to the rise of the gig economy
Gig economy workers' conditions are damaging publicity
Deliveroo faces strikes after attempts to revise contracts
Sharing and gig economy present problems for governments
Points of Interest
Appendix
Further Reading
Sources
Ask the analyst
About MarketLine
Disclaimer
Millennials & marketing: Influencers become critical to success
Restaurants & Food Retail: Millennials have specific requirements when it comes to food
Millennials & Ownership: Generation cares less about ownership, but predictions of doom are exaggerated
Millennials & Activities: Happy to spend on activities and prioritize experiences
Millennials & Technology: E-commerce and sharing apps prosper at expense of traditional outlets
Millennials & marketing: Influencers become critical to success
Personalization of experiences works with millennials
Instagram and YouTube have become powerful marketing tools
Weibo and WeChat also significant in China
User generated content can help brand make inroads
Starbucks, and Urban Outfitters have good UGC strategies
User generated content has pitfalls
Influencers are also a good entry point for millennials
YouTube lookbooks and sponsored content an entry point
Fashion Nova employed Instagram influencers to great success
Instagram model reveals depths of marketing strategies
Live streaming offers cheaper way to authenticate influencer
Twitch has potential to expand beyond gaming roots
China is ahead of the curve for live streaming
Regulatory crackdown has not dimmed investor spirits
Mobile infrastructure significant to millennials
Ethical stances more important to millennials
Rising tide of SMEs with outwardly socially conscious objectives
L'Oréal divided its customers over Munroe Bergdorf incident
Restaurants & Food Retail: Millennials have specific requirements when it comes to food
Healthy and ethical foods are more important for this generation
Fast casual shows just how important convenience is for millennial customers
Introducing new fashionable ingredients to remain on trend
New ordering tech and home delivery very useful for businesses
Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat have brought restaurant food to the home
Money is a big issue for millennials as they are underemployed and have less disposable income
Millenials care less about ownership, but predictions of doom are exaggerated
Fewer homes are purchased by millennials, but many still harbor desires to become home owners
Culture of millennial car ownership is slipping under weight of economic pressure
Millennials are leading society to entertainment free of ownership
Music has been transformed by millennials uninterested in ownership, creating new players
Attracted by low costs, millennials are using Uber to get about, but impact on taxi market varies
Millennials & Activities: happy to spend on activities and prioritize experiences
Cost is a major driver of purchasing choices, because of lower wages
Millennials are not willing to accept worsened quality of life despite less disposable income
It has been identified that millennials are more willing to spend on the “authentic” experience
Festivals and day events really connect with millennials and numbers are booming
Holidays with millennials are less traditional and tend to favor “instagramable” experiences
Attracting millennials to hotels is entirely possible with some changes
Unique experiences of all types can help to sell to millennials
Technology: e-commerce and sharing apps prosper at expense of traditional outlets
Millennials are extremely online
Millennial online habits reflected in e-commerce
Online retail continues to grow
Apparel the main beneficiary
Traditional retail outlets losing ground
Department stores suffering in both US and UK
Selfridges invests online in attempt to adapt
Apps facilitate cheaper sharing services in austere age
Sharing economy apps have potential to grow
Companies that prioritize convenience and price succeed
Tech startups generally lead to aggressive expansion
Sharing economy has led to the rise of the gig economy
Gig economy workers' conditions are damaging publicity
Deliveroo faces strikes after attempts to revise contracts
Sharing and gig economy present problems for governments
Points of Interest
Appendix
Further Reading
Sources
Ask the analyst
About MarketLine
Disclaimer
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Growth in UK operations of online retailers
Table 1: Growth in UK operations of online retailers
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Instagram and YouTube logos
Figure 2: Urban Outfitters Community
Figure 3: Fashion Nova's initial advert with Kylie Jenner
Figure 4: Momo advertising
Figure 5: Survey of three generations over willingness to spend more on healthier products
Figure 6: USA average obesity levels by age group 2016
Figure 7: Sriracha & Kale Burger from McDonald’s
Figure 8: Self-service checkout from McDonalds
Figure 9: Millennial unemployment, US 2017
Figure 10: % of generation that purchases food away from home twice a week
Figure 11: HSBC Generation Buy survey, 2016 Percentage of millennials who own their own home
Figure 12: Average house prices in London, North West England, and South East England Jan 2010 – July 2017 (£)
Figure 13: UK number of cars purchased 2010-2016 millions
Figure 14: Netflix revenues ($bn) 2012-2016
Figure 15: Spotify revenues (EURbn) 2012-2016
Figure 16: Uber app
Figure 17: UK house prices 1950-2017
Figure 18: Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers spending compared US, (% asked willing to spend on)
Figure 19: Tough Mudder event provides a unique day experience
Figure 20: Survey of millennial interest in outdoor activities
Figure 21: Number of annual festival events 2007 & 2017 compared
Figure 22: Travelling focused on social media content
Figure 23: Hilton Canopy hotel room, Reykjavik
Figure 24: Nvidia at gaming convention
Figure 25: Internet activities by age group, 2017, UK
Figure 26: Frequency of online shopping, by age group 2017, UK
Figure 27: Logos of sharing economy pioneers
Figure 28: Deliveroo driver protests in France and London
Figure 1: Instagram and YouTube logos
Figure 2: Urban Outfitters Community
Figure 3: Fashion Nova's initial advert with Kylie Jenner
Figure 4: Momo advertising
Figure 5: Survey of three generations over willingness to spend more on healthier products
Figure 6: USA average obesity levels by age group 2016
Figure 7: Sriracha & Kale Burger from McDonald’s
Figure 8: Self-service checkout from McDonalds
Figure 9: Millennial unemployment, US 2017
Figure 10: % of generation that purchases food away from home twice a week
Figure 11: HSBC Generation Buy survey, 2016 Percentage of millennials who own their own home
Figure 12: Average house prices in London, North West England, and South East England Jan 2010 – July 2017 (£)
Figure 13: UK number of cars purchased 2010-2016 millions
Figure 14: Netflix revenues ($bn) 2012-2016
Figure 15: Spotify revenues (EURbn) 2012-2016
Figure 16: Uber app
Figure 17: UK house prices 1950-2017
Figure 18: Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers spending compared US, (% asked willing to spend on)
Figure 19: Tough Mudder event provides a unique day experience
Figure 20: Survey of millennial interest in outdoor activities
Figure 21: Number of annual festival events 2007 & 2017 compared
Figure 22: Travelling focused on social media content
Figure 23: Hilton Canopy hotel room, Reykjavik
Figure 24: Nvidia at gaming convention
Figure 25: Internet activities by age group, 2017, UK
Figure 26: Frequency of online shopping, by age group 2017, UK
Figure 27: Logos of sharing economy pioneers
Figure 28: Deliveroo driver protests in France and London
