Today’s beauty landscape is a diverse one, especially as it relates to varying generational preferences. The oldest Gen Alpha consumer may only be 14 years old however in 2023 they drove nearly $4.7 billion on beauty purchases, outspending every other demographic.* And while it is important for brands and retailers to identify strategic ways to engage and connect with this young consumer in-store, it is of equal importance that Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomer consumers do not feel alienated, undervalued or underserved, especially considering their collective spending power. In our investigation, we took a deeper dive into understanding these cross-generational beauty consumer behaviors and preferences to reveal future-forward store design and programming opportunities that encompass a holistic lens around the diversity of today’s consumer, the affinities and differences around new routes to discovery, as well as drivers to in-store engagement and customer loyalty.
*AYTM 2024
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What We Learned
Per our investigation, our respondents shared the following key insights as it relates to their experience with and their perception of women’s beauty environments, and which offerings and touchpoints in-store would deliver the most value:
Motivating Factors
MORE THAN HALF of all respondents indicated it is of equal importance to be both educated and inspired when shopping in-store, rather than one over the other
Product Engagement
NEARLY 70% of all respondents desire the ability to freely touch products and styling tools in-store, with 51% desiring a test/try experimentation bar for this very purpose
Merchandising Preferences
#1 for all respondents is a desire for regimen-based merchandising year-over-year (e.g. face, skin, hair)
Sustainable Initiatives
MORE THAN 60% of all respondents are interested in beauty product and packaging recycling receptacles being featured in-store
Technology Integration
3 OUT OF 5 respondents find skin scan or makeup mirrors for personalized product recommendations and education to be a value driver to the shopping experience
Multigenerational Relevance is Key to a Beauty Brand’s Longevity
The beauty landscape is an increasingly competitive one, and from Gen Alpha to Boomers, consumers are doing their best to keep up with the latest social media trends while identifying which brands and products will best support their individual needs along their beauty journey. In-store, product education, and inspiration are table stakes. Consumers are eager to learn and discover in an environment that prioritizes a sense of empowerment and play, giving them the freedom to test products at their leisure. They also value informative displays and visuals, both digital and physical, as a means to learn and discover. When it comes to merchandising, consumers value a convenient and efficient shopping experience, desiring regimen-based planning at the shelf to help them find an effective solution quickly. Consumers of all ages are intrigued by emerging trends, such as clean beauty and inclusive beauty, and they value product and peer recommendations in-store to help inform their purchase-making decisions. In exchange for their loyalty and repeat spending, beauty consumers want rewards programs that are points-driven and result in perks such as free shipping, gifts, and exclusive events. Most importantly, as beauty consumers face new life changes, they want the brands they have come to trust to continue to be there for them while giving them the opportunity to explore something new. No matter their age or where they are on their beauty journey, consumers are ever-changing, and they expect brands to evolve and adapt with them.