Talking Shop
On May 3, more than 100 retail industry leaders attended the fifth Talking Shop Retailer Engagement Series workshop entitled, ‘From A to Gen Z: Shopping with the Future Generation’.
The event, co-sponsored by AMP Capital and the Australian Fashion Chamber, brought to life the key findings of AMP Capital’s 2017 Recommended Retail Practice Report.
Hosted by news.com.au’s Editor at Large, social media enthusiast and commentator, Melissa Hoyer, the event featured presentations from industry experts including Natasha Ritz, Brand Communications Manager at LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics; Christina Butcher, Blogger at Romance Media; Barrie Barton, Strategy & Insights Director at Right Angle; and Erica van Lieven, Founder and MD at research company Direction First.
Natasha Ritz, Brand Communications Manager at LUSH said: “What excites the Gen Z demographic is the opportunity of being involved in something bigger than themselves. For brands and retailers alike, it’s important to recognise that your staff, most of whom would be Gen Ys or Zs, should be treated as your customers. It’s the perfect platform for gaining their feedback and understanding what they’re passionate about to ensure your business moves in the right direction.”
Barrie Barton, Strategy & Insights Director at Right Angle Studios, highlighted that retailers need to understand the nuances of Gen Z, and to avoid simply thinking of them as a being the same as Gen Y. “Gen Z are the most globally aware consumers to ever roam the planet, connected at a click to everything that is happening everywhere on the planet, and extremely skilled at finding out information. What that means is you have an incredibly worldly customer walking into your shop, even if they haven’t travelled out of Australia by the time they are 18.”
According to Belinda Daly, Head of Marketing at AMP Capital Shopping Centres, “We recognise that Gen Zs are an important emerging market of shoppers for many of our retailers and are proud to share these valuable insights at today’s Talking Shop event to help retail businesses thrive well into the future.”
