Retailers that capture business from millennials now will benefit for years to come. Here’s how kitchen retailers can do just that with 3D planning.

Millennials now represent 37% of the total US home buying market.  This makes them a key target for kitchen retailers – especially as millennials wield enormous buying power, with more disposable income than ever before. 

To appeal to this growing demographic of digital-native homeowners, kitchen retailers must ensure the right technology is in place to augment their strategies. In this article, we explain how, with a 3D planning solution such as HomeByMe for Kitchen Retailers, it’s possible to hit the sweet spots for millennials looking to invest in their homes. 

1. Provide convenience

Once upon a time, consumer convenience meant access to products via a short walk or even a drive, but today, expectations, especially for millennials, have vastly changed. This generation has re-written the definition of convenience, which now includes the option to purchase online. 

Given that 55% of millennials are interested in buying big-ticket items on the internet, kitchen retailers must ensure they have an online presence that allows them to engage these users – as well as complete their entire purchase – online. This can be complex considering all of the design rules that must be adhered to when planning a new kitchen. 

However, with a 3D planning solution, retailers can stand apart from competitors by offering an “always-on” online experience. They can start inspiring users with beautiful 3D kitchen renders before enabling them to create their own. A 360-degree view of the online catalog allows retailers to add these items into made-to-measure kitchen designs that are accurate, compliant with NKBA guidelines, and sales-ready on completion. 

2. Offer a seamless omnichannel experience

A seamless experience across every channel – from online to in-store and back again, is a key priority for this segment. With 73% of consumers agreeing that a good experience helps to drive their buying decision, there’s every reason for retailers to ensure they have the technology in place to exceed expectations.

Bridge the gap between channels with a cloud-based 3D planning solution. Integrating this technology across the business will facilitate a seamless service online to offline for greater interaction and engagement across channels. Allow consumers to browse and design online and buy in-store, or browse in-store and complete their kitchen purchase online. Furthermore, sales consultants can also use the same solution to consult with users in-store or virtually, which allows for increased collaboration, and ultimately, better customer service. 

3. Give them a personalized service

Millennials place a premium on individuality and customization, but a highly personalized online experience is only possible with the right technology. Retailers can give consumers a completely personalized experience by leveraging the power of a 3D environment. 

Users will have at their fingertips tools to personalize every element of their kitchen, from room layout and decor right down to cabinet color and the finish on their door handles. Not to mention that “building” a kitchen, and bestowing an individual’s mark upon it, can create a sense of psychological “ownership” amongst users who will value their designs even more – the ultimate purchase motivation. 

Take this strategy one step further by making use of consumer data. Cater to users’ individual tastes in the shape of product recommendations based on past activity, and provide tailored purchase incentives and promotions that keep them coming back for more.  

4. Stand out on social media

Kitchen retailers shouldn’t ignore the opportunities they have to create an engaging, interactive, and relevant brand experience on social channels such as Instagram and Pinterest. Millennials spend on average two hours and 34 minutes a day on social media sites. In 2020, millennial Pinterest users grew 36% year on year, with 80% of millennial women and 40% of millennial men in the US using the app as a source of visual inspiration.  

With a 3D planning solution that boasts inbuilt sharing capabilities, consumers can create high-quality renders and easily share them across their social channels, as well as with their family and friends, for validation. 

Construct social marketing strategies around user-generated content – think contests, hashtags and more – to maximize brand exposure on these channels. These practices drive word-of-mouth in the digital age, which 82% of millennials report as a key influence over their purchasing decisions. 

Flexible solutions for evolving strategies 

Kitchen retailers looking to tap into the spending power of the millennial generation first need to become digital-native marketers. With a 3D planning solution such as HomeByMe for Kitchen Retailers, it is possible to reach, engage, and ultimately convert digital-native millennials within their channel of choice. And most importantly, the adaptable nature of this technology means retailers can constantly evolve strategies alongside consumer preferences to consistently deliver experiences that resonate. 

Get in touch to find out how we can help your kitchen retail business unlock millennial buying power.