How Gen-Z Shoppers Engage With Digital Signage
Does your retail business have a strategy for engaging with Gen Z?
While their emergence as consumers is still evolving, there’s no denying the next generation’s staying power as an influential market. With an estimated buying power of $143 billion in the United States alone, Gen-Z shoppers are a highly coveted demographic for retailers.
Leave it to our experts at Oppna Digital to explain why businesses of all sizes should explore our digital signage solutions to cater to Gen-Z’s shopping preferences.
What Gen-Z Cares About in a Shopping Experience
The generation born between the mid-1990s and the early 2000s already dictates various shopping trends and will continue to do so for many years to come. But for many retailers looking to better engage with Gen-Z shoppers, there’s still some confusion about the best methods and practices for appealing to them.
Let us remove some of the mystery!
Because when you think about it, it’s actually pretty straightforward: As the first fully digital native generation, Gen-Z has grown up with technology seamlessly integrated into every aspect of their lives, including shopping.
This digital-focused upbringing makes digital signage displays an obvious choice to attract this demographic. Marketers have caught on, and digital signage is becoming increasingly popular to engage with Gen-Z consumers and capture their attention.
Visual Aesthetics
Let’s start with the fact that so many Gen-Z shoppers are highly influenced by visual aesthetics. They have grown up in an era of Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where engaging visual content is king.
As such, digital signage displays can capture their attention with visually stunning graphics, animations, and videos. In high-foot traffic areas such as the mall, implementing visually stunning digital signage displays is a perfect way to catch the eye of your typical Gen-Z passersby.
These displays allow retailers to showcase their products and promotions in a visually engaging way that will grab the attention of Gen-Z shoppers who are used to scrolling through social media feeds at lightning speed.
Interactive Screens
It’s no secret that Gen Z shoppers are tech-savvy and have grown up with touchscreens and other interactive technologies. Digital signage displays that offer interactive features such as touchscreens, smartphone synchronization, augmented reality, and virtual reality are especially appealing to Gen Z shoppers.
These features provide a more immersive shopping experience, allowing Gen-Z shoppers to interact with products in a fun and personalized way.
Transparent Company Values
Gen-Z shoppers value authenticity and are drawn to brands that align with their values. Digital signage displays that feature user-generated content or highlight a brand's commitment to social responsibility are especially appealing to this generation.
By showcasing user-generated content, retailers can create a sense of community and encourage engagement with their preferred brands.
Similarly, by highlighting a brand's commitment to social responsibility, retailers can appeal to Gen-Z shoppers' desire to make a positive impact on the world.
Convenience
Gen-Z shoppers are always on the go and value convenience. Digital signage displays that provide information such as product details, prices, and digital wayfinding store maps can be especially helpful to these shoppers.
By making this information easily accessible, retailers can help Gen Z shoppers navigate their stores and make informed purchase decisions quickly and efficiently.
Personalization & Customization
Gen-Z consumers expect a personalized shopping experience that reflects their individual preferences and style. Digital signage can meet this demand by delivering tailored content and product recommendations.
With tools like AI-driven algorithms, digital signage can adapt in real-time, showcasing specific items based on user preferences, past interactions, or even demographic data. For example, personalized product suggestions or promotions can be displayed based on customer behavior or preferences detected via smartphone apps.
This personalization builds a deeper connection with Gen Z shoppers, creating a shopping experience that feels uniquely designed for them. Businesses that implement customizable features like these into their digital signage not only engage Gen Z shoppers but also foster brand loyalty.
Integration With Social Media
Gen-Z lives and breathes social media, making its integration into retail environments essential. Retailers can boost engagement by incorporating social media into their digital signage.
For example, retailers can create a dynamic and interactive shopping experience by displaying live social media feeds, hashtags, or customer-generated posts.
This allows Gen-Z shoppers to feel more connected to a brand and incentivizes them to share their in-store experiences online. Retailers can even utilize digital signage to promote in-store social media contests, offering discounts or rewards for users who share their experience on platforms like Instagram or TikTok.
This increases brand visibility and provides a way to bridge the gap between the digital and physical shopping experiences.
Sustainability & Eco-Consciousness
Gen-Z is perhaps the most environmentally conscious generation, prioritizing sustainability in purchasing decisions.
Digital signage presents an excellent opportunity for retailers to communicate their eco-friendly initiatives and practices. From highlighting a product's sustainability to showcasing behind-the-scenes efforts such as responsible sourcing or waste reduction, digital signage can help retailers build credibility with Gen-Z shoppers.
There are many ways to incorporate sustainability messaging into digital signage, such as video campaigns, eco-certification symbols, or QR codes that provide more in-depth information about a company’s sustainability efforts.
Real-Time Updates & Flash Sales
Another way to engage Gen-Z shoppers is to use digital signage to offer real-time updates and promotions. This generation loves instant gratification, and digital signage that updates in real-time can feed that craving.
Whether it’s flash sales, limited-time offers, or live inventory updates, digital signage can capture their attention by providing up-to-the-minute information. Retailers can use this dynamic content to create a sense of urgency and excitement, driving immediate action.
The ability to change promotions and messaging on the fly also gives retailers the flexibility to test what resonates most with their Gen-Z audience, ensuring they’re constantly delivering fresh and relevant content.
Digital Displays Offer the Experiential Element Gen Z Longs For
Overall, it’s easy to surmise that Gen-Z shoppers value experiences over things. At the same time, the majority were raised with screens. While incredibly comfortable with technology, they’ve learned to be skeptical consumers.
Gen Z may not be as easily influenced by traditional advertising as millennials, Gen X, or Baby Boomers, which is why we see so much value in adding experiential elements to your marketing strategy.
Digital signage displays that offer experiential features such as gamification, social sharing, and personalized recommendations can be especially appealing to this generation. The right features create a sense of fun and excitement around shopping and can turn a routine trip to the store into a much more enjoyable, memorable retail experience.
Amplify Your Digital Signage Strategy With Oppna Digital!
At Oppna Digital, we help retailers create a more engaging shopping experience with custom digital signage solutions that offer visually stunning displays, interactive features, user-generated content, and accessible information. By exploring various digital signage strategies, retailers can find many ways to capture their customers’ attention.
Are you ready to cater to the needs and interests of your target audience?
Contact Oppna Digital today to schedule a consultation with our team of digital signage specialists!