Gen Z Shopping

I am a part of the Gen Z generation and I love shopping. I love the thrill of going on the hunt and finding that perfect piece of clothing that completes the outfit I have been picturing or hopping on the new trend bandwagon by getting clothes that everyone has been talking about. It’s the best. And while shopping in person is always great and provides the perfect way to disconnect from the world for a little bit, online shopping also has its own perks. I don’t need to move, drive, or try anything on, I can simply sit on the couch, browse the pages while watching tv, and buy what I think looks cute. Better yet, sites such as Amazon make online shopping instantly gratifying with their next day delivery.

Gen Z Shopping:

As a Gen Z shopper, I am all about keeping up on the current trend. I am always looking for the next big fashion movement or popular brand. To me, that is what keeps shopping fun and interesting. I am constantly being told of new cool brands to look at and the ease of online shopping makes checking those stores out very easy no matter where I am are located. Social media is also a big influence on how I shop as well as where I shop. From my experience as a Gen Z shopper I believe that this generation is all about following the latest trend, and the convince of online shopping makes that really easy to achieve.

How I Shop:

I am always in the mood to shop. Whether that is taking the day to go to the mall and look around or browsing all of my favorite stores online, I will shop any way. To me shopping in person is a great way for me to spend time with a friend, have fun, and make a day out of going from store to store. Whereas I will shop online anytime I am in the mood. I have found that over the past year or two I have started on online shopping more often than I do in person. This mostly has to do with the fact that when I am away at school, I don’t normally have the time to go and take a day, or a couple of hours, to go shop in a store. Online shopping is simply more convenient. I can be browsing online, stop to go do something else, and then pick it up again whenever I have time. While both ways of shopping have its benefits, online is really the way that I do most of my shopping.

Why I Shop:

There are many different reasons why I shop. Most of the time I shop out of necessity, whether is it is because I need something that I don’t already have or something broke and I need to replace it. Other times I simply shop for the joy of it. While many people could never find joy in shopping, like my mom and sister, a lot of the time I shop to take my mind off of other things that are happening in my life. I always find that a good day of shopping always helps me when I’m really stressed and allows me to escape for a little bit. Ever heard of the term “retail therapy”? Well that is what shopping does for me. While the reason someone shops is different for everyone, it really comes down to what makes you happy, and for me, shopping is just that.

Where I Shop:

Because I shop for many different things, where I shop varies. I love Amazon. I mean who doesn’t? Amazon has everything you could ever need or want and is so convenient. I use Amazon whenever I need to get something quick for a cheap price. For other retail and shopping needs I have a couple of brands that I really like, but mostly I will shop wherever. Sometimes I find a new brand on social media or hear about it through friends. Most of the time, what dictates where I shop depends on both the price as well as what type of clothing I am buying. If a brand is too expensive and has similar clothes that I can find elsewhere for a cheaper price, then I will always choose the cheaper brand. The only way I will buy an expensive piece of clothing is if I really love the brand and have been following them for a while. Sales are also a big pull towards certain stores over others as well as special discounts such as buy one get one free or free shipping.

Other than Amazon and other retail stores, I am that person that loves to go grocery shopping. I really can’t explain it, but I love going to the grocery store, walking through all the isles, and picking out different foods. Sometimes I find it fun to go to specialty stores and change up the type of shopping that I do. Where I shop doesn’t really have an impact on my overall shopping experience, but it definitely makes a difference depending what I want to buy.

How I Shop vs. My Parents:

The way I shop is very different from how my mom shops. For one, my mom hates shopping. Unless she absolutely needs something, she does not shop for fun or any other reason. She is all about finding the best deal and will always compare prices with other similar objects. While price is important to me, and is something I do consider when shopping, that is not the main factor I consider when deciding what I want to buy. She doesn’t understand shopping to keep up with current trends and has the mentality that if you have clothes you don’t need to buy more. On the other hand, my dad has more similar shopping tendencies to me and loves to shop for fun as well as to get new trendy things. But unlike me who shops a lot online, my dad likes to shop more in person. I can definitely see the difference in generations between the way that my parents shop and the way that my friends and I shop.

How Brands can do Business with the Gen Z Generation:

I think that the Gen Z generation is very into shopping especially for trends seen on social media. The way that Gen Zers uses social media can be a very beneficial tool for businesses and can extend their reach through pairing up with social media influencers. People,

especially Gen Zers, are heavily influenced and swayed by these popular social media influencers and a lot of people would buy things that they wear. Therefore, I think it is really important for businesses to have a presence on social media so that when collaborating with big social media names, followers can easily browse their brand. As well as a social media presence, it is important for businesses to have a user friendly, trendy, and good-looking website. Visual cues are very important to the Gen Z generation and good website is another great way to draw in potential social media partners. Overall, I think the best and most beneficial way that businesses and reach out to do business with Gen Zers, is through social media. This generation grew up with the rise of social media and it plays a big role in our everyday lives.