Article by Lucy Koch
Source: emarketer.com, March 2019
Millennial parents in particular are using digital tools to navigate the world of retail
Pressed for time and money more than in their childless days, today’s parents are increasingly using digital tools to supplement their in-store shopping.
A research-savvy cohort, more than three in four parents agree that the internet has changed the way they get information about products and services, according to a February 2019 release from Simmons Research. And as technology evolves, these parents have more diversified digital tools at their disposal.
“A decade ago, parents’ prepurchase research would have meant using a desktop or laptop computer. But a couple things have happened since then,” said Mark Dolliver, principal analyst at eMarketer. “For consumers in general, smartphones have displaced computers for a lot of digital usage. And over that same period, millennials—who are especially prone to using their smartphones at all times—have increasingly displaced older people in the parenthood ranks. So the smartphone powers more of parents’ retail activity, whether it’s doing research or transacting purchases.”
When it comes to researching, bargain hunting is a top priority for this group. According to the Simmons study, 52.8% of mothers and 44.2% of fathers agreed that “when I am shopping, I often use my mobile/handheld device to search for local deals,” compared to 34.6% of total adults. Parents also check prices online prior to making a purchase—more so than nonparents. Some 58.3% of mothers and 56.3% of fathers (vs. 45.1% of total adults) agreed with the statement, “If I find something I want in a store, I go online to see if I can get a better deal.”
Sometimes, shopping in-store with kids can be a hassle. When that’s the case, parents turn to online browsing and buying for its added convenience.
