According to Market Watch, young Americans (11 to 20 years old) command an influence and purchasing power to the tune of 200 billion dollars each year.
Generation I: Influence Beyond Their Years
What is unique about these young shoppers is the influence they wield within their families. Parents, grandparents and other adults look to them for advice and opinions on buying products. These tweens, teens and 20 years-olds have so much influence that they are being referred to as Generation I. With such robust buying power, the clout of this demographic can not be ignored.
Tapping Into Generation I
To capture their attention and tap into the deeply influential pocket of these kids (shoppers), you need to get inside their minds.
These tweens, teens and 20 year-olds may have a variety of interests, but products revolving around jewelry, fashion and artisans are at the heart of their desires.
However, to know what products they really want, you must become a savvy marketer by viewing them in their natural habitat. Social media like Facebook and Twitter are the environments where this demographic feels the most at home. Develop ways in which you can communicate with and observe these shoppers online and through social media.
To gain these influencers’ attention, you must know and understand what is trendy for the year. Equipped with this knowledge, all that is left is to display your hot “must-have” items.
Generation I : Jewelry and Fashion Trends
Here are a few trends Generation I will be looking for in the upcoming year. In addition to this is a quick reference, you should still invest the time to do your own investigations using social media.
FASHION
- Nude Colors – chic and versatile.
- Floral Prints – girly, feminine.
- Combination of Colors – red-trimmed bags with black for the primary color.
- Chains – think Chanel style.
- Crocodile prints – classic, but wild.
- Leather – worn in satchel styles.
Scarves
- Knitted, but not to heavy for Spring.
- Narrow scarves about 2″ to 3″ wide
- Colors – florals, nudes and bright colors
Belts
- Cowboy-style belt buckles – the bigger, the better!
- Long belts that can wrap around
- Narrow or extremely wide
JEWELRY
- Bold statement pieces
- Over-sized bracelets
- Broaches
- Extra long earrings
- All metal earrings
- Animals – snakes, elephants, birds, even bugs
Now that you have some jewelry and fashion trends to focus on, show the teens and their moms how the merchandise in your shop follows these trends. Remember, it is all creating attention-grabbing visual displays. Make a section of your store all about them; after all, they are the I Generation.
Generation I: Trendy, Chic and Unique
The influence of Generation I goes beyond fashion and jewelry items. Even home decor purchases are being influenced by the I Generation. Trendy, chic and unique is the battle cry for this demographic.
As a result, these young shoppers are embracing artisan-made products, as well.Whether home accents or fashion items (scarves, belts, hats, etc.), Generation I adores items with an artisan’s touch.
They cherish hand-crafted, unique art work and hand-made jewelry.
They treasure recycled and re-purposed items. These influential buyers gravitate toward items that speak to them and let them express their personal and environmental views.
Reach Out to Generation I
If you appeal to the Generation I niche, you gain more than just that demographic. The family and friends of Generation I will follow where they go. Capturing the eye of this demographic is the key. To do that, you must make an effort to keep up with trends and styles that appeal to them. You must prove that you are in touch with their generation and what speaks to them.
How To Prove Your Worth
Utilize floor space by styling mannequins with the different trend types you have to offer. Use magazine cut-outs to show the latest fashion trends and how to wear them. Create a trends portfolio by using images from traditional and social media to convey current fads and highlight the items you have that follow that craze.
Find a blog about fashion and send out a tweet. “Hey I just read the best blog, Sarah’s Fashion Blog. We have these items in stock!” Remember, social media is their turf and you must go where they go.
How To Get Generation I To Your Store
Once you’ve artfully created your displays, host a special event for the under-20 crowd. Tap in to the influence of this generation by singling them out using age-specific marketing strategies. Create a buzz and get the word out using the media sources this age group uses every day: Facebook, tweets, e-mails, text messaging, etc. Utilize your younger family members and employees (or hire a few Generation I members) to tweet, text and Facebook the specifics about the event.
Why You Should Court Tweens, Teens and 20-Year-Olds
You can’t you afford to ignore a demographic that spends 200 billion dollars! Marketing and selecting products for the 11-20 age group will also help boost sales among all ages due to the strong influence this age group has on their families. FGmarket is here to make it easy to find great, cutting-edge vendors with great products to boost your sales.
Are you looking for a great wholesale resource for artisan, jewelry & fashion? Finding the wholesale products you need is easy when you use FGmarket. Checkout the artisan, jewelry & fashion suppliers below.
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