It takes a lot to define a generation, and no two generations are alike. As much of the world is watching the young adults in the second-youngest generation develop and become full-fledged consumers, marketers are placing more and more emphasis on how to engage with them. Most are children of Baby Boomers, and all are eager to carve out a unique identity as they come of age.
So who are they and why are marketers and brands getting to know them?
In the broadest of terms, they’re the young adults born between 1977 and 1995. From a numbers perspective, they are 77 million strong and make up as much of the U.S. population (24%) as Baby Boomers and Generation Z (those born after 1995). It’s true they founded the social media movement, but they’re anything but couch potatoes. They’re still climbing the income ladder, but they make up the most educated generation, as 23 percent have a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
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Current incomes range from $25,000 to $48,000 for younger (18-27) and older (28-36) Millennials, respectively, but they’re coming of age in the most dire economic climate since the Great Depression—making their families, communities and social networks even more valuable as they band together.
THE MOST ETHNICALLY DIVERSE GENERATION
While they make up the same amount of the U.S. population as Boomers, the similarities end there. Only 21 percent are married, compared with 42 percent of Boomers, and Millennials make up 20 percent of same-sex couples. They prefer to live in dense, diverse urban villages where social interaction is just outside their front doors. They value authenticity and creativity, and they buy local goods made by members of their communities. They care about their families, friends and philanthropic causes.
Millennials also make up the most racially and ethnically diverse generation (19% Hispanic, 14% African American and 5% Asian)—and this growth in diversity will only increase as they start their families. While the Boomer population was fueled by high birth rates, the Millennial population has been driven by immigration.
Millennials are 14 percent first generation and 12 percent are second generation, indicating strong ties to their home country–from food choices to language and media preferences. These ties keep Millennials connected to their ethnic and cultural backgrounds, as 71 percent say they appreciate the influence of other cultures on the American way of life, compared with 62 percent of Boomers.
Hispanics make up the largest ethnic demographic at 19 percent, and Nielsen expects the Hispanic population to grow by 167 percent by 2050. Asians currently make up 5 percent of the Millennial population, but Nielsen expects this demo to grow by 142 percent growth by 2050. Ten years ago the majority of the Millennials either spoke only English or mostly English in the home. Today, the bilingual Hispanic is the dominant group within these Millennials.
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Multigenerational households are more prominent in Hispanic and Asian cultures, a trend that can affect family dynamics, household watch and buy patterns and housing development, and further strengthen ties to the home country.
So when you think of Millennials, try not to generalize. They make up a big—and diverse—piece of the pie, and the piece they represent will get larger. As they come of age and increase their spending, the Millennial cohort will grow as a percentage of the U.S. population. Those who understand them and how to best reach and engage them, will be in the best position to capitalize on the opportunity they present.
COMMENTARY: The millennial generation—those born between the early 1980s and early 2000s, today’s teenagers and twenty-somethings—represent some 76 million people in the United States. Right now, the millennial demographic is one of the most highly desirable customer segments. But this consumer group that has grown up with the Internet differs starkly from its predecessors, with its own unique ways of using products, communicating with people and enjoying leisure time. What’s more, their annual purchasing power of $170 billion is on the rise. Clearly, it’s imperative that brands engage and attract millennials.
The millennial generation is a hyper-connected, tech-savvy group. Nearly all millennials are passionate web users. They’re deeply engaged in multiple social media channels and mobile apps. Unlike previous generations, their eyes aren’t glued to the television—they’re focused on computer and smartphone screens. The bulk of their communication takes place online and this is where brands need to reach them. An online brand presence is not enough; building an online community is an essential merchandising strategy to cater to millennials. This means developing and rewarding brand advocates because millennials want to feel like vital, valued members of a company, with voices that count. And companies want to listen because millennial brand advocates are an influential bunch.
Millennials also love ease of access and leverage technology for the purpose of efficiency. A surefire way to cater to them is to make the shopping experience more convenient by incorporating digital innovations, such as branded mobile apps and mobile point-of-sale tablets, into physical stores—as we discussed in a recent blog post. Macy’s did just that with their 2012 strategy specifically aimed at the millennial generation. Demonstrating an understanding of the millennial’s relatively short attention span, Macy’s has embraced changing displays with greater frequency. Tapping into millennials’ affinity for brands and fashion icons, Macy’s is also focusing on branded fashion lines through tie-ins with celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Madonna.
With their sheer size and purchasing power, the millennial generation offers a tremendous opportunity, and companies must invest time in better understanding and targeting this key demographic. Of course, brands will need the right data collection tool, retail promotion management and merchandising field insights to accurately and swiftly measure the return on efforts to engage and win these new customers. GoSpotCheck’s powerful system enables companies to do just that.
Courtesy of an article dated February 18, 2014 appearing in Nielsen and an article dated December 5, 2013 appearing in GoSpotCheck
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