New Research Reveals Shopping Habits of the Next Retail Powerhouse

  • A third of Gen Z shoppers would save or invest an unexpected £1,000 windfall.
  • Gen Z prioritizes experiences over possessions in spending.
  • Four groups identified within the generation: future flexors, experiential explorers, trendsetters, and budget loyalists.
  • Gen Z to drive £26bn retail spending in 2025, rising to almost £40bn over the next decade.
  • Saving for the future is a priority for this age group due to cost pressures.

A recent survey by RSM UK and Retail Economics found that 34% of Gen Z consumers would choose to save or invest an unexpected £1,000 windfall. Experiences are more important than possessions for this generation, with 14% spending on major trips or events and 12% on luxury goods. The research divided the group into four categories: future flexors (43%) focused on financial security, experiential explorers (24%) prioritizing experiences and social occasions, trendsetters (17%) influencing wider Gen Z with their image-conscious choices, and budget loyalists (16%) being practical and value-driven. With £26bn retail spending expected in 2025, rising to nearly £40bn over the next decade, understanding these diverse groups is crucial for staying relevant.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about Gen Z shopping habits based on a survey conducted by RSM UK and Retail Economics. It presents the findings in a clear and concise manner, highlighting different spending behaviors within the generation and their influence on retail spending. The article also includes relevant examples such as Waterstones’ growth and the shift in social commerce purchases among millennials. However, it could be improved by removing the repetitive information about the survey and providing more context for the terms ‘future flexors,’ ‘experiential explorers,’ ‘trendsetters,’ and ‘budget loyalists.’ Additionally, the article could provide more details on the Retail Technology Show’s research.
Noise Level: 4
Noise Justification: The article provides some relevant information about Gen Z shopping habits and their spending preferences, but it also includes some filler content such as the mention of Waterstones and millennials’ social commerce purchases, which may not be directly related to the main topic. Additionally, the article could provide more in-depth analysis or insights into the trends and implications for businesses.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Retail and book retailer industries
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the spending habits of Gen Z consumers, their preferences for saving or investing unexpected windfalls, and their impact on retail spending. This information is relevant to financial topics as it affects consumer behavior and can influence the retail market. The mention of Waterstones opening new stores due to a Gen Z reading boom also indicates an impact on specific companies within the book retail industry.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: The article discusses consumer behavior and trends among Gen Z shoppers, but it does not mention any extreme events that occurred in the last 48 hours.·

Reported publicly: www.retailgazette.co.uk