Shopping habits: what retailers need to know about the ‘new consumer’

In Australia and around the globe, the retail industry is in a state of flux. While the predicted apocalypse for bricks-and-mortar retail hasn't quite eventuated (just take a look at the expansion of shopping centres in Australia), the number of businesses closing their doors or reporting slow sales suggests many are struggling to understand and engage with today’s consumer.

At the recent World Retail Congress – the leading global retail conference held in Amsterdam – retail leaders from brands such as Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger and Sephora shared their retail strategies and focus areas.

The consensus was that to appeal to customers in today’s retail climate, retailers need to create a memorable experience and offer consumers hyper-personalisation and customisation.

Before retailers can do that, they need to understand just who today’s consumer is. We’re seeing a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour from conspicuous consumption to conscious consumption. The ‘post-growth’ consumer is on the rise.

The rise of the ‘post-growth’ consumer

In response to social and environmental factors such as the exploitation of people and resources, and amid the economic cycle of the global recession, today’s consumers are adopting a ‘post-growth’ mindset.

This is a shift in values, choices and most importantly behaviour, where we're seeing consumers become more mindful of their retail behaviours in pursuit of a more meaningful existence.

These consumers find less joy in excessive spending and choose to spend money on experiences rather than material goods. They're ultimately more considered in their retail and consumption choices, and concerned their shopping habits will impact the world around them.

These consumers are constantly searching for meaning not only in how they live, but in how they consume.

As a result, the drivers behind consumer purchase decisions are evolving, and we’re seeing a shift in how people decide what, when – and if – to buy.

Price and convenience are no longer the only primary purchase drivers; conscious of the environmental and social impact of their purchase decisions, today’s consumers are more likely to buy from a brand or retailer that aligns with their own values.

This means we’re seeing new and evolving purchase drivers come into play, with concepts such as ‘sustainable’, ‘values’ and ‘conscious’ being applied.

Not just a mindset

What exactly is pointing to this change? Insights and trends from around the world show us that today’s consumers want to make better choices via sustainable and ethical products.

Research shows that 91% of consumers want brands to use sustainable ingredients or material, and 92% believe that sustainable business practices should be standard. Research from Monash Business School’s ACRS November 2018 Omnibus found that 50% think it is important that products are made from recycled materials.

In good news for retailers, consumers are willing to pay more for these options; 66 per cent of consumers are willing to pay more for products from a sustainable or socially conscious brand (and this rises to 73% for millennials), while 70% are willing to pay more for products that don’t infringe on human rights.

And consumers are voting with their wallets. In the past two years, there’s been an 11% increase in ethical cosmetics sales.

This is primarily driven by millennials demanding more ethical products from the beauty industry. There’s also been a decline in leather shoe sales as consumers look to alternative materials and actively avoid products made with leather.

In the same period, there’s been an increase in consumer spending on ethical clothing, and a 60% increase in women buying second-hand clothing, with concerns about the environmental impact of fast fashion cited as the key reason for this increase.

Remaining relevant and becoming an ally

To remain relevant in today’s changing retail landscape, retailers will need to do more than just provide a memorable or personalised experience. They’ll need to become an ally to the new consumer by enabling them to make consumption choices that align with their values.

There are various way retailers can do this.

The first and most obvious way is through their products. A great example of this is Adidas’ recent collaboration with Stella McCartney to create a vegan pair of Stan Smiths, Adidas’ iconic leather sneaker made from a leather alternative to appeal to the new consumers' sustainable sensibilities without skimping on style.

Another way is through education and transparency of the supply chain. Direct-to-consumer brand Everlane is leading the charge here by offering consumers the opportunity to meet the makers of their clothes and take tours of their factories, so consumers know exactly how their clothes are being made.

Good decision-making doesn’t need to stop at the purchasing point; retailers can continue to help consumers make decisions they feel good about after their purchase through post-retail initiatives.

Retailer H&M has been recognised as driving change in the fast fashion industry by establishing a clothing recycling service in an effort to offset the impact of the fast fashion industry on the environment.

And for retailers who aren’t able to implement these types of initiatives, there’s always the sensory retail environment.

The typical store experience is designed to stimulate shoppers (think loud noise or music, bright colours etc), but this means consumers need to decipher hundreds of (often-overwhelming) advertising messages that can prevent them from making a decision they feel good about.

Research suggests green spaces in shopping centres can reduce consumers’ cognitive load and give them the mental space to be more mindful and considered in their shopping choices, and ultimately make them more satisfied.

We might see even more strategies for retailers to enable consumers to make decisions that align with their values, such as AI-powered mindful consumption and 3D-printed fashion.

In the future, AI such as Alexa and Siri could help us choose ethical brands and products, as we wait for our fashion choice to print. Both would be a welcome step towards offering everyday consumers sustainable fashion alternatives that also reduce pollution and waste.

This article was first published on Impact. Read the original article