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Thursday, 1 June 2017

Goldman Sachs sees millennials coming of age and say they are reshaping retail

You know millennials are coming of age when Goldman Sachs has its eye on them. The generation, one of the largest in history “is about to move into its prime spending years. Millennials are poised to reshape the economy; their unique experiences will change the ways we buy and sell, forcing companies to examine how they do business for decades to come.”

Retailers are closely watching the cohort’s shopping habits, Goldman Sachs Research’s Lindsay Drucker Mann explains in a video (runtime 02:31). There are three critical changes millennials are bringing: first is a greater migration to online shopping and, from there, the second factor is the increased impact of online retailers. Third, Drucker Mann says, is the creation of new demand models that include efficient exchanges of pre-owned products and buying directly from factories and moving further away from traditional models.

In an excellent infographic, Goldman Sachs presents some well-known facts about the cohort, the first generation of digital natives. It shows that millennials are indeed delaying decisions like house ownership, marriage, and having kids. They also have higher debt levels and are reluctant to buy items such as cars, music, and luxury goods. Millennials are also exercising more, eating smarter, and smoking less than previous generations.

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