Merkle, a leading technology-enabled, data-driven performance marketing agency, has released a new research report, Why Millennial Women Buy, in partnership with Levo, the network for millennials in the workplace, providing young professionals with resources to help them navigate and advance their careers. The research report reveals the behaviors and motivations of the largest generational cohort in the market today and the most powerful purchasing segment, millennial women.
The population of millennials, which totals 75.5 million, represents a major market force in terms of buying power, spending $200 billion a year. It is estimated that millennial women represent approximately $170 billion of that market. According to the report, millennial women are exceptionally hard workers, with 40% having a "side-hustle" in order to fund their big purchases and projects. And when making purchases, 88 percent of respondents cited price as a top factor in their choice, with 83 percent sharing that a brand's sustainability practices influenced their decision.
“We found that millennial women do not fit many of the stereotypes other generations have imposed on them,” said Adam Lavelle, chief solutions officer and global CMO at Merkle. “But millennial women want a deeply personal experience with brands, and those relationships come with high expectations. Brands need to do their own listening and take a people-based approach to their marketing and experience delivery.”
To win in a millennial woman world, brands must listen to their audience, craft a story that resonates on an individual level, and deliver this story across channels in a meaningful way.
"Millennial women are a forcing function for innovation, both as consumers and in their careers. They are now both chief earner and chief spender, and it is critical for brands to understand and recognize the role career plays in their consumer habits,” said Alisa Leonard, President at Levo. “Brands who understand and execute upon the values of diversity and inclusion, personalization, transparent and sustainable practices and meaningful engagement will win with this audience."
The report’s analysis of spending patterns of millennial women was based primarily on two sources of data, the survey of millennial women combined with Merkle’s proprietary national consumer data repository, and was supported by several supplemental data sources.
To read the full report, visit www.merkle.com/millennialwomen.
About Merkle
Merkle is a leading data-driven, technology-enabled, global performance marketing agency that specializes in the delivery of unique, personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices. For more than 30 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. The agency’s heritage in data, technology, and analytics forms the foundation for its unmatched skills in understanding consumer insights that drive people-based marketing strategies. Its combined strengths in performance media, customer experience, customer relationship management, loyalty, and enterprise marketing technology drive improved marketing results and competitive advantage. With 7,000 employees, Merkle is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with 21 additional offices in the US and 33 offices in Europe and APAC. In 2016, the agency joined the Dentsu Aegis Network. For more information, contact Merkle at 1-877-9-Merkle or visit www.merkle.com.