Generational marketing is huge right now. Many companies are tapping into understanding the various generations in an effort to make more of an impact on the marketplace and capture more  market share. But so what if there are four unique generations working and making purchases in today’s companies and marketplace?

Who cares?

You should. That’s who!

For the first time in history we are dealing with four generations that have very particular needs and patterns of behavior when it comes to making purchases, being managed, being motivated, and being hired. Successful companies know that forging strong relationships with our customers is the key to profitable business because long-term customer loyalty pays off in the form of repeat sales, referrals, and positive word- of-mouth advertising. We create strong relationships with our clients when we truly understand their needs and wants. We all like dealing with people and companies that “get it” when it comes to understanding who we are.

Let me give you an example. I can not begin to tell you how frustrating it is for me, as a Baby Boomer,  every time I am in line at the checkout at the grocery store. I always make an attempt to engage the cashier in conversation. It’s usually about little things like the weather or the price of eggs. I find it frustrating when the Millennial (a person born between 1981 – 1999) at the register fails to make eye contact or laugh at my silly jokes. I feel left out of the transaction somehow. I sometimes even go so far as to look for a cashier who is about my age before I pull into a register station so that I might make a connection. You see, as a Baby Boomer, it’s all about connecting and I will go to great lengths to patronize businesses who understand that part of who I am.

Making your staff aware of the things that are unique to each of the generations can go a long way to creating customer experiences that are positive and enduring. Isn’t that what we’re all after? If you haven’t checked out Market Viewpoint’s Generations in the Workplace Seminar series, it’s not too late. Contact us to get the latest on this popular series and how it has helped other businesses.

Market Viewpoint wants to hear from you! What are some of your most frustrating encounters with people from other generations?

I bet we have a lot of talk about!