Young people today have a lot of money to spend – about $143 billion! They want to buy from brands they trust and love to tell their friends about.
These teens and young adults care about:
- Real people in ads, not just models
- Companies that help the Earth
- Businesses that do good things for others
- Products that last and don't hurt our planet
When they like a brand, they share it on TikTok and Instagram. They'll even pay more if they know the company cares about the same things they do.
Tired of Losing Track of Young Customers?
A good customer system helps you:
- Keep track of what young buyers want
- Send them messages they care about
- Remember their favorite products
- Show them you share their values
Try Our Tools Free for 14 Days – See How Many More Young Customers You Can Reach!
Key Takeaways
Young people today care about brands that do good things for our world. They want to see real proof, not just empty words.
They trust brands that show real people using their stuff. They like it when companies are open about how they work.
Before they buy things, these young shoppers look at social media. Three out of four check what others say online. They listen to their friends' advice.
They like to buy from brands that care about the same things they do. Most will spend more money on items that help save our planet.
They want good products from companies that help make the world better. When they find a brand they trust, they stick with it.
The Quest for Brand Authenticity
Brands need to be real with young people today. They want three things from the brands they buy from:
First, they like to see real people like them in ads and photos. Eight out of ten young shoppers trust brands more when they show real customers.
Second, they care about helping others. Most young people want to buy from brands that do good in the world. But they can tell when brands fake it just to make money.
Third, they want brands to be open about how they make things. Young people look closely at how brands run their business.
When brands care about the same things young people do – like helping the earth and being fair to all – they win their trust.
These young shoppers will stick with brands they trust, even if things cost a bit more.
Gen Z Values That Matter
Young people today care deeply about our planet and doing what's right. Most of them want to buy things that are good for Earth. They look for brands that speak up about what matters.
When a company shows it cares through real actions, not just words, young shoppers trust them more. Many want to work with brands to fix big problems in the world.
These shoppers will spend more money on items made the right way. They want things that last and match what they believe in.
To them, it's not just about buying stuff – it's about making the world better.
Trust Through Authentic Actions
Young people today care about honest companies. They want to support businesses that do what they say they will do.
Numbers show that 8 out of 10 young shoppers look for real, honest companies. They stop buying from companies that lie or do bad things. They watch how companies act on social media and in real life.
This table shows what matters to young shoppers:
| What Matters | How Much It Matters |
|---|---|
| Being Real | 82% buy more |
| Social Media | 79% follow |
| Good Behavior | 80% avoid bad companies |
| Good Causes | 47% doubt fake support |
Take Patagonia, for example. They help save the earth. They tell people what they do with their money. Young shoppers like this.
You must show that you mean what you say. Young people are smart. They look at everything you do. They want to support companies that care about doing good things.
Sick of wasting hours on marketing that doesn’t pay off?
What if you could skip the hard work and still grow your business?
Automate your marketing and see how easy it can be to save time and close more deals.
Discover the simplest way to take charge of your business!
Social Impact Matters Most
Young people today care deeply about making the world better. Nine out of ten buy from companies that help solve big problems.
Want to connect with these young shoppers? Show them you really care by taking action, not just making promises.
Here's what matters to young buyers:
- Earth-friendly products – Most want items that don't hurt our planet.
- Making everyone feel welcome – Almost all want companies to fight unfair treatment.
- Helping people feel happy and safe.
- Giving money to good causes – Three out of four like brands that share with others.
Do these good things, and young people will support you. Many will even pay more for products from companies that care.
Remember: Don't just talk about doing good. Take real steps to help. Young people can tell the difference.
Quality Drives Lasting Connections
Great products help build strong bonds.
When you shop, you want things that work well. Many young people care most about how good something is before they buy it. They know how to spot real quality because they grew up using the internet.
You and your friends want the best. This means good products, nice workers who help you, and other happy buyers.
You also like when stores know what you want. When stores make good stuff and tell the truth about how they make it, you trust them more. This makes you want to keep buying from them.
Digital Connection and Brand Loyalty
Making friends with today's young shoppers needs to happen online. These teens and young adults grew up with phones and computers. But only 36 out of 100 of them feel close to brands they buy from.
To make real friends with young shoppers online, brands should:
- Be real and honest – share true stories about helping people and the world
- Make it easy to shop on phones, computers, and all other devices
- Keep talking to them with cool new stuff and fun chats
- Let them pay in ways that work best for them, like phone payments
The key is to meet them where they're – in the digital world. Speak their language. Show them you care. Make it simple to buy from you.
Beyond Traditional Marketing Strategies
Marketing needs to change to reach young people today. Young people want real connections and care about what brands believe in.
To connect with Gen Z (young people), you need to:
- Create fun activities they can join
- Build a friendly community
- Make content just for them
| What to Do | How to Do It | What it Does |
|---|---|---|
| Be Social | Let people share their stories, work with popular people | Makes people trust you |
| Show Your Values | Help good causes, care for the earth | Makes people loyal |
| Make it Fun | Add games, start contests, have live events | Gets people involved |
| Stay Current | Follow trends, talk with people | Makes people feel welcome |
| Make it Personal | Use data to suggest things, give special experiences | Makes deeper bonds |
Ads alone don't work anymore. Young people want brands to do more than sell things. They want brands that:
- Make fun games
- Help good causes
- Give them special treatment
When you do these things, you build real bonds with young people who care about honest brands that share their beliefs.
Trust Through Transparency
We need to be open and real with young people. They want to know the truth about what we do.
Young people trust brands more when they show real people in their ads. They want to know what's really going on.
Here's what young people want to see:
- The truth about how we help the earth and treat workers
- The power to choose what info they share
- Clear facts about where things come from
- Brands that do what they say they'll do
When we're honest, young people will stick with us. They want to see the real us, not fake stuff.
Being open and clear helps us make friends with young buyers. It's that simple.
Personalization Meets Brand Experience
Making our brand special for young people means giving them what they want. These teens and young adults like it when things feel made just for them. They want this in stores, on apps, and online.
Smart computer tools help us learn what each person likes. This helps us show them things they care about. Brands like Nike let people make their own shoes. Starbucks gives rewards that people can choose themselves.
We need to be clear about how we use their info. When we let them help make things with us, they trust us more. They can pick the rewards they want. This makes them feel close to our brand.
All of this works best when it's simple to use on phones, computers, or in stores. Adding fun games and special stuff they can only get from us makes it even better.
Social Impact and Brand Choices
Young people today care a lot about what they buy. They want to support good companies that help others. If a store or brand does something wrong, people stop buying from them. They look for brands that match what they believe in.
Before buying things, most young people check social media. They watch videos on apps like TikTok to learn about products. They trust what they see online to help them choose what to buy.
They also like companies that give money to good causes. When a brand shows it cares about making the world better, young people want to buy from them more.
Values Drive Purchasing Power
Values Matter When We Buy Things
Young people today care a lot about what they buy. They like brands that help the earth and do good things. When they shop, they spend $143 billion each year. They also help their families pick what to buy.
When you shop, you want brands that care about the same things you do:
- Most young people want items made in a way that helps the earth
- They like buying from stores that give money to help others
- They feel good when brands show they care in their ads
- They look up how things are made before buying them
More young people will work and shop in the years ahead. This means stores must do good things to get them to buy. They need to help the earth and make the world better.
Authenticity Builds Trust
Young people today care about brands that do good things. They want to see companies help make the world better. They can tell when a brand isn't being real.
Most young people want to buy from brands that give to good causes. They also like brands that make things in ways that help our Earth. They want to know how you make your items and where they come from.
When you show real people using your stuff and work with people who share what you care about, young people trust you more. Many will even pay more money for brands they trust.
But if you fake being good just to look cool, they'll know, and they won't buy from you.
Digital Impact Matters Most
Young people today care about what's online. They use their phones and computers to decide what to buy.
Let's look at what matters to them:
Most young people buy things from companies that do good in the world. They want to help others.
They check social media before they buy. Three out of four young people do this.
Many of them buy right from ads they see on social media.
They trust real people online more than movie stars in ads.
To win with young people, you need to be online where they are. They like brands that talk to them on social media.
They spend money on things that match what they believe in.
Young people want to see you care about the same things they do. They want to know you're real and doing good things for others.
Influencer Culture and Brand Trust
Young people today trust online creators more than ever. 4 in 10 teens say they believe what their favorite social media stars tell them about products.
What makes teens trust these online stars? It's not just about being real anymore. They want to see creators post often and have lots of followers. They also like when creators work with the same brands for a long time.
Teens expect brands to talk with people online and join groups they care about. Almost all teens (9 in 10) judge if a brand is good by looking at their social media. Many teens are part of online groups about things they love.
Some brands do this really well. Alo Yoga and Rare Beauty work with online stars their fans trust. They also talk to their fans a lot. This makes teens like and trust these brands more.
Sustainable Practices Drive Purchase Decisions
Young people today care a lot about the Earth. They want to buy things that help the planet, not hurt it. In fact, 3 out of 4 young shoppers pick Earth-friendly items over famous brands.
Let's look at what young shoppers do:
- Almost all of them (91%) buy from companies that help the Earth.
- Most (77%) will spend more money on items that are good for the Earth.
- Many (81%) buy things based on the wild weather they've seen.
- 3 out of 4 want to work for companies that take care of the Earth.
This isn't just a short-term thing. Young people are showing their parents and others how to shop in ways that help the Earth.
Now, even two-thirds of older people shop from companies that care about the Earth.
Conclusion
Young people today spend money on brands they can feel good about sharing. Almost 3 out of 4 want real, honest companies. Even more – about 8 out of 10 – care about brands that help the Earth. They pick brands that talk to them online, do good things for the world, and make them feel special. These shoppers use facts to pick what they buy.
Stop Losing Track of Your Gen Z Customers
Running a business is hard when you can't keep up with young customers. A good CRM helps you stay connected with Gen Z buyers, remember what they care about, and send them messages they'll love. Never miss a chance to build real connections with this important group.
