Platt Retail Institute: Reaching Generation Y through Digital Networks

Most GenY consumers are about the "pull" and get annoyed by too much "push," making it tricky to blast video at them in the stores. What could be most effective is to get their attention with a videobite of content, but let them add to it with on-the-spot reviews, etc. Maybe by using their mobile device to comment via texting to the video device. That's truly engaging, albeit somewhat scary for many retailers. But think what they can do to endorse a product or brand if you let them in closer!

Anne Howe, Founder, Anne Howe Associates

Well-done, engaging messaging and streaming video will attract the attention of Gen Y (and others). Time in the store--while in the aisles--is fast becoming the most important and relevant place to reach shoppers. There is too much noise, distraction (and DVRing) to rely on mainstream media. The messages, however, must be personalizable, relevant, and targeted. I truly believe technology has come of age.

Dave Wendland, Vice President, Hamacher Resource Group

This report helps highlight the importance of a multifaceted marketing campaign that embraces multiple mediums to get to the Gen Y consumer. Conversion and conversion management is the key to tying these elements together. Message push in the case of traditional advertising mediums and in-store digital networks remains fundamentally important to inform, create need and promote image.

The report seems to imply the message needs to be short, compelling and steer the consumer to the next campaign step. Measurement of the conversion rates toward the next step "learn more" can be readily attained through interactive mediums whether in-store, on websites or mobile.

Combining these mediums and measuring the performance of these stepped goal driven conversion activities can provide very measurable real time performance data. Campaign not as effective as you hoped? See the performance data in real time and modify the campaign in real time until the planned results are attained.

Marketing to Gen Y could be a blessing disguised as a challenge!

Scott Farr, President and CEO, Farr Media Corporation

Does it make you crazy when old folks cluster in a grocery aisle to converse, oblivious to the fact that they've stopped cart traffic? Or the helpless mom with three or four little ones blocking an aisle, sometimes with one of those cutesy-but-huge carts that look like a locomotive and are designed to haul children around? Or the shoppers perusing greeting cards, also blocking the aisle? Or the clueless idiots talking on cellphones while shopping, causing traffic jams due to their lack of attention to their surroundings (they're even worse on the road)? Me, too.

So, if in-store video in supermarkets improves and becomes interactive to the point that shoppers stop and get engaged, where will they cluster with their carts to watch the screens? This has always been my concern with in-store video: The better it gets, the worse the traffic congestion. I worked on an in-store video project while with Catalina Marketing, and in the early stages of installation--before the novelty wore off and customers simply began ignoring the screens--we had cluster problems. It was like encountering hundreds of LLBs (Left Lane Bandits) on the highway, driving slowly in the fast lane. Shoppers with carts have no idea what's going on around them. I also headed the Videocart testing team while with Raley's, and again I observed customers coming to a dead stop in aisles while watching the video screens attached to their carts, causing the inevitable traffic backups. Roadblocks in supermarkets impede sales and introduce early frustration prior to the expected frustration of the checkout lane.

M. Jericho Banks PhD, President, CEO, Forensic Marketing LLC

This is a discussion that continues on and on. I still have my doubts on the value to sales, of multimedia in stores. Wouldn't be a better investment to put money on hand-held, internet-powered mobile phones to engage and connect with the youth customer, for that matter, any and all customers. If they become a distraction, the person turns it off. If they are interested, they turn it up.

Here in Hong Kong (and with what I have seen so far in China), kids are plugged into their iPods and cell phones and portable games all the time. I have yet to see one installation of the kind of media being suggested here. The largest, flat screen monitors in stores are usually playing videos of fashion runway shows as so much wallpaper.

Jerry Gelsomino, Principal, FutureBest

In-store video as the draw? I don't think so. First you have to get them in the store, and that can only be done through the social media markets (where they spend most of their time) and peer-recommendations, which weighs heavily into their decision process.

Rick Boretsky, Retail Data Integration Specialist, RIBA Retail (www.ribaretail.com)