Here’s our hot takes from the Grocer 2023 conference…
We need to understand Gen Z more
They’ll be 25% of the workforce by 2025, and are gaining more disposable income to buy into products and brands. Brands and marketeers need to invest time into understanding what makes this younger audience tick – and not be intimidated by marketing to them!
Tik Tok AND YouTube
Tik Tok is the social channel on everybody’s radar, but Gen Z are turning increasingly to YouTube for educational, longer form content. Because it’s search term based, it can reach audiences further down the marketing funnel and is an important space for Gen Z-ers but also millennials.
The De-influencing trend
When influencers tell their audiences what products NOT to buy. Eek. The #deinfluencing hashtag has had more than 223m views on Tik Tok and has spread from mainly beauty products to now encompassing many different sectors.
The power of the night in, not a night out
Gen Z are fans of a big night in. Despite the restrictions of the pandemic now being long gone, tighter budgets and wanting to curate their own food, drink and entertainment means this younger audience are fans of getting everyone together on the sofa at home. Brands should be considering tailoring their products and marketing to cater to this.
A brand’s employees are its greatest ambassadors
Throughout the conference, there were stories of how a business is now built from the inside out, and how caring about employees is more important than ever – it’s one of the things a Gen Z-er looks for most from a job. M&S’s pandemic formed Tik Tok store accounts were a great case study of how the retailer tapped into its colleagues’ enthusiasm and experience to smash its reach and engagement targets.