Transforming Retail: The Impact of Social Media and Expert Consultancy on Gen Z Shopping Habits

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5 min read

The influence of social media on shopping habits is more significant than ever, especially for Gen Z. According to Walmart and Morning Consult’s State of Adaptive Retail report published last month, more than half (55%) of Gen Z shoppers have bought items online while browsing social media in the last six months. The survey also revealed that more than half of shoppers want personalized product recommendations.

This trend highlights a critical opportunity for retailers: leveraging real-time data from social media platforms to tailor their personalization strategies. Many retailers might not realize that the data generated by social media interactions is at their disposal, offering insights into consumer behavior, preferences, and emerging trends. By effectively utilizing this data, retailers can create highly personalization solutions shopping experiences that resonate with Gen Z consumers and drive sales.

Survey Insights

The survey findings indicate several key points about Gen Z’s shopping behavior:

  • Social media as a shopping hub: 55% of Gen Z shoppers have made an online purchase directly from social media.

  • Diverse shopping journeys: While 44% of Gen Z shoppers begin their shopping journey with online searches, significant numbers also start by browsing in stores (42%), visiting retailers’ mobile apps or websites (40%), and checking social media (38%).

  • Desire for virtual try-ons: About 49% of respondents were willing to buy more clothes if they had access to virtual try-on tools.

These insights suggest that Gen Z values convenience, digital integration, and personalized experiences, which innovative, tech-focused retailers can use to refine their strategies.

Work With the Experts

Sophelle’s eCommerce Personalization software for ecommerce Services are designed to help retailers develop and implement effective personalization strategies that drive real results. Our approach is comprehensive, encompassing strategy, testing, and assessment to ensure that retailers meet the unique demands of today’s consumers, particularly Gen Z.

Strategy: Sophelle works closely with retailers to develop a personalized eCommerce strategy that aligns with their business goals. This includes identifying key customer segments, understanding their preferences, and creating tailored marketing campaigns that resonate with these segments.

Testing: We conduct extensive testing to ensure that personalization efforts are effective. This involves A/B testing different ecommerce personalization software tactics to determine what works best for each customer segment. By continually testing and refining strategies, we help retailers optimize their personalization efforts for maximum impact.

The Role of Retail Consultants in Business Growth

Selecting the best retail consultancy is incredibly important. The expertise and guidance they provide can make or break your success. So to ensure you’re on the correct path, you need to ask all the right questions upfront, leaving no stone unturned.

Introducing: Sophelle’s comprehensive Retail Consultants Interview Guide — an indispensable tool in your quest for the ideal consultancy.

We understand that making the right choice is crucial, and that’s why we’ve compiled this extensive list of questions. With this guide in hand, you’ll have all the critical questions to ask, boosting your confidence during the interview process. Your retail management consultancy success story begins here, with the assurance that you’re working with the right team from the very start.

Consultancy’s Expertise and Experience

1. Expertise: Begin by understanding the consultant’s expertise in your project domain, whether it’s IT strategy, marketing, or any other area relevant to your needs.

  • Can you provide a detailed description of your company’s expertise in our project domain, which is [specify the domain]?

2. Experience: Inquire about their experience in terms of both years in the industry and the number of similar projects they’ve successfully completed. Additionally, ask if they have worked with your current and future application stack.

  • How many years has your consultancy been active in [project domain]?

  • Can you share some examples of projects in [project domain] that you have successfully completed?

  • Could you elaborate on your experience with our current and future application stack? (Please provide details of the stack)

3. Client Success: Find out which of their clients they’ve helped with projects similar to yours and which team members were involved in these successful projects.

  • Can you name some clients for whom you have successfully completed projects similar to ours?

  • Which team members were involved in these successful projects, and what roles did they play?

Vendor Team

4. Team Operations: Gain insights into how the retail strategy consultant team operates, especially in terms of remote work and specific activities like interviews and presentations.

  • Could you describe how your team typically operates, especially in terms of remote work?

  • Which specific activities will be conducted remotely, and which ones on-site (if any)?

5. Team Members: Request information about the proposed team members, including their names, titles, roles on the project, employment status (dedicated or contract), years with the company, years in the industry, and their experience on similar projects.

  • Please provide the names, titles, and roles of the team members proposed for our project.

  • Are these team members dedicated to our project or on a contract basis?

  • How many years have these team members been with your company, and what is their overall industry experience?

  • Can you share their specific experiences on similar projects?

Effective Implementation Strategies for Point of Sale (POS) Systems

A POS system can also provide insights into popular products. With this information, retailers can focus their marketing efforts on promoting sought-after items to maximize sales potential. Plus, retail solution implementation can analyze the performance of complementary products and identify upselling opportunities, further optimizing their sales strategies.

By a robust POS implementation system, retailers can create a positive and seamless customer experience that fosters long-term loyalty. And in today’s competitive ecommerce landscape, building customer loyalty is critical for sustained success.

At Sophelle, we have extensive experience helping retailers develop and implement highly effective POS solutions that drive success. If you’re ready to learn how you can improve your point of sale experience, contact Sophelle today.