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Millennials and Gen Z have found a new way to digitally detox – using two phones
The Independent explores a counterintuitive digital-detox trend: young people buying a second phone to gain control over their screen time. Drawing on wellness experts and ownership data, the reporter shared her own experience using a “dumb phone” for close contacts and another for everything else while examining why millennials and Gen Z are splitting their digital lives across devices. Gen…
The Next Collectible Boom Is Hiding In The Beverage Aisle
Forbes reports on how beverage product packaging are increasingly treated as collectibles — items that are worth keeping, displaying, photographing, and reselling. The article covers several brands case studies and draws on several industry experts to argue that packaging itself has become a source of value. Gen Z Planet's founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, told Forbes: "Beverages have shifted from disposable products…
Gen Z turns on classic snacks, forcing major grocery shake-up: ‘They don’t trust them’
Fox News reports about how Gen Z and Gen Alpha are changing the snacks we see on the shelves in stores across America. Instead of sticking with well-known legacy brands, younger shoppers want snacks with fewer ingredients, more nutrition, and cheaper prices. The article, which draws on several experts and industry data explains how food companies are changing their formulation…
Michael Jackson and Kanye West: Who Decides Who Gets Forgiven?
This Newsweek story contrasts the Michael Jackson biopic's success with Kanye West being blocked from performing in the U.K. aiming to highlight how society and corporate brands apply moral judgment unevenly to artists with troubled legacy. Drawing on several brand and PR experts, the article argues the inconsistency is a result of the time that has passed and by a…
Gen Alpha Flexes It’s Three Billion Pound Spending Power
Grazia looks at how Gen Alpha teens are emerging as powerful tastemakers in fashion, with their spending power on the rise and shopping habits driven by social media. Drawing on youth-marketing experts and several brand examples, the article examines how teens are now discovering specific products on TikTok and speeding through trends at lightning speed. Hana Ben-Shabat told Grazia that…
What went wrong at tween jewelry staple Claire’s
Modern Retail examines why Claire's filed for bankruptcy a second time in seven years. Citing restructuring experts and industry analysts, the article assesses the chain's turnaround efforts and why it was not enough to keep it afloat. Hana Ben-Shabat told Modern Retail that Claire's clearly "recognized the need to evolve," understanding that Gen Z and Gen Alpha grew up online…
Gen Z’s Economic Impact Soars as Workforce Entry Boosts Spending Power to Over $1 Trillion
WWD recently highlighted a new study by Gen Z Planet showing that Gen Z’s collective income has reached $1.1 trillion which translates to $950 billion in disposable income after taxes. According to the study, the figure is driven by higher workforce participation, increased wages, and income from side hustles. WWD suggested the findings are a clear signal to brands that…
Gen Z, millennials drive membership growth at Sam’s Club
Retail Dive reports on Sam’s Club’s growing appeal with Gen Z and millennial shoppers, pointing to Walmart executives who credit the retailer’s digital-first experience. The story focuses on how convenience and technology are helping draw younger consumers to the warehouse chain. Hana Ben-Shabat told Retail Dive that Gen Z is especially mindful about money: “Being the children of the Great…
What Does Gen Z Think of Goop?
The WSJ reports on Gwyneth Paltrow's launch of Good.clean.goop ─an affordable product line that is sold at Target and Amazon and is priced well below Goop's signature luxury range. Drawing on interviews with Paltrow and several young consumers, the article assesses whether a lower price point can win over this very demanding consumer segment, citing it has $360 billion in…
What’s the deal with ‘lazy girl jobs’?
The Boston Globe looks into the meaning of "lazy girl job"─ a viral TikTok term for roles that offer flexibility, pay the bills, and leave room for work-life balance. Career coaches and Gen Z consultants weigh in on what the trend tells us about young workers. Hana Ben-Shabat told the Boston Globe: "It's a way of cultural messaging to say…
More Chicken, Lighter Beer, Pink Drinks: Companies Craft New Products for Gen Z Tastes
The WSJ reports on how food and beverage companies are developing entirely new products rather than re-marketing legacy ones in an attempt to win over Gen Z. Drawing on interviews with marketing executives and trend forecasters, the article explores why this generation is difficult to sell to, and how some attempts to court it have backfired. Gen Z Planet research…
Gen Z is coming for the housing market
Business Insider reports on how a wave of Gen Zers — some still in college — are buying homes and building rental portfolios early, managing them remotely from across the country. Drawing on investor profiles, executives, and economists, it explores the mindset and conditions fueling the trend. Our research is cited to frame the generation's appetite for homeownership: a 2020…
Morphe Cosmetics is closing all U.S. retail stores. Employees say they were left in the dark for weeks.
NBC News reported on Morphe Cosmetics store closure in the U.S. The move, which surprised employees who said they were barely given a day's notice, drew consumer backlash online with hashtag #justiceformorpheretailemployees receiving millions of views. Citing former staff, a labor attorney, and industry experts, the article explores what the store closures mean to the future of the beauty brand…
How Fruit of the Loom is refreshing its brand to appeal to younger shoppers
Gen Z Planet’s founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, told Modern Retail that for many brands "The gaming platforms are the perfect place to meet this generation and build relationships with them, because they are there by the millions every day." She also noted that reaching consumers now when they are young pays off later as “they become your future loyal customers."
How retailers like Claire’s are going all in on Roblox
Modern Retail reports on how retailers and brands are creating virtual worlds on Roblox in an attempt to reach Generation Z and Generation Alpha audiences. Drawing on marketing people and metaverse strategists the article examines why Roblox has become so popular and how brands are connecting the virtual worlds to their physical stores and websites. Gen Z Planet’s founder, Hana…
5 ways Gen Z is insisting on changes to the workplace
The Boston Globe describes five workplace priorities that Gen Z graduates bring to the job market and how they are pushing employers to rethink old norms and practices. The article draws insights on each priority from recent graduates and workforce experts. Gen Z Founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, offered generational context telling The Boston Globe that Gen Z prefers "to work for…
‘The consumer of the future’: Luxury brands place their bets on Gen Z
Modern Retail reports on how luxury brands from Gucci and YSL Beauty to SK-II are pursuing Gen Z through digital channels, influencer partnerships, and metaverse experiments, chasing a generation they had long written off. Drawing on industry executives and resale data, the piece looks at what it takes to win this cohort. Hana Ben-Shabat told Modern Retail that Gen Z…
Wall Street is tripping over itself to win over Gen Z
Business Insider reports on how investing startups and traditional brokerage firms are racing to win over Gen Z, redesigning apps around values-driven investing, community features, and aesthetics. Drawing on startup founders and other experts, the article explores what young investors want and how to tell a genuine missions from sleek marketing. To frame the stakes, the article cites Gen Z…
The Morphe Beauty Saga Isn’t Pretty
The New York Times examines the rise and decline of Morphe, the makeup brand that grew rapidly through high-profile collaborations with YouTube beauty influencers, only to suffer later as those partners became controversial and as makeup trends shifted away from its bold look. Industry experts and young consumers offered insights as to why Morphe's reinvention as a beauty incubator and…
Should more retailers be on Roblox?
This Retail Dive article asks whether more retailers should be on Roblox weighing the pros and cons of such a decision. Citing examples of early movers like Gucci and Forever21and marketing experts who see a real opportunity in building brand awareness early, the article also offer the counter perspective of those who urge caution about a platform used mostly by…
Saks is finally on TikTok
Retail Brew covers Saks's debut on TikTok, where the luxury retailer is working with influencers, celebrities, and other fashion figures to showcase loungewear, eveningwear, and cosmetics via trending formats on the app, aiming to connect with younger shoppers. Hana Ben-Shabat previously told Retail Brew: "Gen Z is looking for inspiration. Focusing on product, product, product is not going to be…
Mall-based brands like Gap and Abercrombie are having a ‘renaissance’ on TikTok
Modern Retail reports on how once-struggling mall-era retailers like Gap and Abercrombie found new life on TikTok as teens are reviving 2000s styles through haul clips that attract millions of views. Marketing strategists explain how retailers are capitalizing on viral moments and even drawing on the platform to make merchandising decisions. Gen Z Planet founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, told Modern Retail…
6 important things to know about Gen Z’s homeownership goals
National Mortgage News covered what lenders should understand about Gen Z as the next wave of homebuyers, drawing in part on Gen Z Planet research. The article reported that Gen Z is markedly more optimistic about owning a home than millennials — 87% said they want to own one day, compared with 63% of millennials — and that they tend…
Back to Y2K with the new glitter hair party look
The Guardian reports on the comeback of what was known in year 2000 as tinsel hair ─ the sparkly extensions that are now revived by Gen Z and celebrities. Hairstyle historians and colorists discuss the origin of the trend and explain why it is appealing, while Gen Z's founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, offers a generational point of view suggesting that the…
Dear Celebrities: Please Stop Churning Out Beauty Brands
The New York Times reports on the flood of celebrity beauty brands, from Ariana Grande and Hailey Bieber to Addison Rae, and asks whether consumers still wants them, considering that most quietly flop. Industry executives, investors, and young consumers weigh in on why traditional celebrity endorsement is losing its pull with a generation that prizes authenticity. The Times cites Gen…
Gen Zers relied on BNPL during the holidays. It’s time to pay up.
Retail Dive examines Gen Z's dependency on Buy Now Pay Later (BNLP) services during the holidays season and the debt risks that are associated with it. Analysts, lenders, and critics weigh the appeal of installment plans against their downside. Hana Ben-Shabat told Retail Dive the trend troubles her because it runs counter to her research that shows that Gen Z…
The era of shortages is unraveling the old American Dream. But that’s not a bad thing.
Business Insider argues that the converging housing, labor, and supply shortages of 2021 are unraveling the postwar American Dream, and that what replaces it could be healthier. The article works through each shortage in turn, with cultural historians, workers, and economists describing a shift away from debt-driven consumerism toward flexibility, better working conditions, and thrift. As evidence of that generational…
For Gen-Z, Side Hustles Are Just Another Way To Generate Income
Luxury Society reports on a new study by Gen Z Planet showing that Gen Z's disposable income in the U.S. has reached $360 billion — more than double than what was estimated three years earlier. The figure is driven by increase in employment, parental allowances, and by the generation penchant for side hustles. The article walks through the study's findings…
Gen Z Has $360 Billion to Spend, Trick Is Getting Them to Buy
Bloomberg reports on a Gen Z Planet's new study that found that Gen Z's disposable income has reached $360 billion. The figure represents a significant increase of more than double an estimate from three years earlier and is driven by an increase in workforce participation and side hustles while saving as much as they can. Hana Ben-Shabat told Bloomberg the…
‘Z Brands’ Could Be the Next Direct Disruptors
In this byline article for WWD, Gen Z Planet’s founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, introduces the concept of "Z Brands" ─ a growing wave of direct-to-consumer companies like Topicals, Parade, Billie and Cider, that were built with Gen Z in mind. She argues that their success is driven by deep understanding of the generation that is defined by individuality, quest for authenticity…
From social influencers to ‘buy now pay later’, the changing landscape of e-Commerce shopping
Gen Z founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, appeared in this CNBC segment alongside industry experts to discuss how social commerce, influencers, and Buy Now Pay Later, are reshaping the online retailing world . She argued that Gen Z is a critical segment for brands to understand, calling them "the true digital native generation" and noting that 87% had a cell phone before…
Will Allegations Damage Brandy Melville’s Standing With Gen Z?
The Sourcing Journal asks whether a recent exposé of Brandy Melville could damage the brand in the eyes of Gen Z. The said exposé reported allegations of a toxic workplace, including racism, antisemitism, and sexual harassment. Hana Ben-Shabat told Sourcing Journal that earlier criticism of the brand's exclusionary sizing have not influenced shoppers, but these allegations are far more serious…
‘As seen on TikTok’ is the new ‘As seen on TV’
The Association Press reports on how TikTok has become a major shopping engine, with national chains creating a dedicated sections for products that went viral on the app. Profiling, brands, creators, and marketing experts, the article explores how a single TikTok video can sometime drive product sell-out overnight, and how companies are scrambling to catch up. Gen Z founder, Hana…
How Traditional Teen Apparel Brands Went Out of Style
Retail Dive examines why legacy teen apparel brands have fallen out of favor with young shoppers. Gen Z Planet's founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, told Retail Dive that the challenge has to do with the fact that teen attention is harder to hold as culture changes so quickly: "Fashion can only exist in the cultural context that surrounds it." She also noted…
Gen Z Expert Reveals Why Gen Z’s Seeming Contradictions Make Sense
Retail TouchPoints published a Q&A with Gen Z founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, on what it takes to attract, train, and retain Gen Z employees. She explained why traits that seem contradictory on the surface like loving technology while craving human connection, or being idealistic yet pragmatic, actually become coherent once you understand how this generation grew up. Across the interview, Hana…
Retail Jobs are Treated as a Temporary Bridge to Something Better. But Why?
NPR examined why retail jobs, which employ roughly 15 million Americans, are still being viewed as temporary work rather than as an opportunity for a long-term career. The article follows several long-term retail employees and looks at issues such as burnout, low pay, and high turnover that characterized the sector for years. Gen Z Planet research is cited offering a…
Claire’s Introduces Subscription Boxes as Part of a Revamped e-commerce
Modern Retail covers Claire's launch of Cdrop, a quarterly subscription box aimed at reclaiming Gen Z tweens and teens (and their parents) and strengthening the connections between mall stores and online platforms. The article places the move within a broader trend among legacy mall retailers who are transforming themselves post-bankruptcy and post-pandemic. Hana Ben-Shabat points to Gen Z Planet research…
4 Biggest Financial Hurdles for Gen Z That No One Else Has Faced
GOBankingRates identified four financial challenges that are unique to Gen Z including a tough post-pandemic job market and reduced investment returns due to inflation. The article shares insights from several financial experts and offers practical advice on how Gen Z can navigate this environment. Hana Ben-Shabat told GOBankingRates that meme-stock-style short-term plays aren't a strategy she'd recommend. On retirement, she…
What Gen Z Consumers Really Think About Celebrity Beauty Brands
Beauty Independent explored why Gen Z, a cohort often seen as rejecting convention, has embraced celebrity beauty brands like Fenty and Kylie Cosmetics. The article combines Gen Z Planet research with first-person accounts from ten young women about what appeals to them. Gen Z Planet founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, pointed to data showing that 60% of Gen Z buy a different…
TikTok #dorm Content Is Driving a New Category Of Home Decor
Retail Brew explores the back-to-college shopping has migrated to TikTok, where #dorm and #DormLife content has produced a booming home decor category. En Z Planet founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, told Retail Brew that she advises brands to use the platform to create visual cues : "Gen Z is looking for inspiration. Focusing on product, product, product is not going to be…
Virgil Abloh Is The King Of Culture. Luxury Wants In.
Luxury Society took a closer look at LVMH's investment in Virgil Abloh's Off-White label, and what does it say about the luxury industry pivot toward younger consumers and the need to compete on culture instead of products alone. Editors and industry experts weigh in on Abloh's influence and what the deal means for the sector. Gen Z Planet's founder, Hana…
4 Strategies to Help Gen Z & Millennials Work Better Together
Inc. Magazine reports on the challenges employers are facing as Gen Z enters a workforce that is now spanning five generations. Drawing on Hana Ben-Shabat's research and her book Gen Z 360, the article lays out four strategies she recommends for helping the generations work better together including cross-generational training and reciprocal mentoring. In addition, Hana Ben-Shabat told Inc. that…
From Aerie to Zara, retailers turn TikTok videos into sales
CNBC reported on how retailers from Aerie to Gap, Zara to Aeropostale and others have been benefiting from viral TikTok moments where influencers showcasing their products leading to overnight success and sell-out. Brand executives described building TikTok into their overall strategy; either by courting big-name stars or by letting trends spread organically. Hana Ben-Shabat, told CNBC that the organic approach…
Beauty’s New Frontier: How Technology Is Transforming The Industry, From Virtual Reality To Livestreaming
Forbes reports on how the pandemic accelerated beauty retail's move toward immersive technology including virtual try-ons, AR and VR tools, livestreamed masterclasses and video consultations. Executives and analysts describe how brands like Ulta or Bluemercury rebuilt the beauty counter online. Gen Z Planet's founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, told Forbes the bar for digital experiences in the beauty industry has risen, with…
What the pandemic has cemented about Gen Z
Retail Dive explores the effects of the pandemic on Gen Z as shoppers headed into the 2020 holidays. Drawing insights from analysts, marketing professors, and survey data, it appears that for a generation already shaped by crisis, COVID-19 mostly sharpened existing traits rather than creating new ones. Hana Ben-Shabat told Retail Dive that the pandemic made many young people think…
How to Sell to College Students When Campus Is Closed
Business of Fashion took a look at how brands that used to count on in-person campus events and ambassador programs managed to reach college shoppers when campuses closed down during the pandemic. Brand ambassadors, marketers, and college-marketing pros walked through just how quickly everything pivoted to virtual events, while Hana Ben-Shabat, founder of Gen Z Planet, shared her take on…
‘USPS Merch,’ Stamps Receive Breakout Support, Much of It From Gen Z
WWD reports on how Gen Z is using its spending power to support causes and institutions they cares about. The article highlighted a grassroots movement of young people buying stamps and merchandise to help the financially struggling U.S. Postal Service, fueled by the viral #SaveUSPS hashtag on TikTok. Gen Z Planet's founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, told WWD that this behavior reflects…
Studies Find COVID-19 Has Solidified Gen Z’s Core Values
WWD reported on Gen Z Planet study showing the pandemic reinforced Gen Z's core values: value-consciousness, support for local business, and the expectation that brands act as good corporate citizens. The article featured Hana Ben-Shabat's analysis of what this means for brands looking to connect with Gen Z.
In aftermath of George Floyd’s death, maybe Generation Z can help us heal
This San Francisco Chronicle article reflects on the racial-justice reckoning that followed George Floyd's death and argues that Gen Z may be uniquely placed to help drive lasting change. Hana Ben-Shabat told the Chronicle that the generation's response flows directly from who they are: "Gen Z is the most diverse generation ever to live in this country. Acceptance, tolerance and…
The New Rules for Going Direct-to-Consumer & how to do it in 2020
The Business of Fashion analyzes how new brands are launching in a market that is already crowded with direct-to-consumer startups. The article profiles four young companies, among them Parade, an underwear brand built for Gen Z and examines the strategies they are using to differentiate themselves. Gen Z Planet founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, told BoF that " Gen Zers prioritize savings…
Startups see a market in renting couches by the month
The Associated Press reports on a new trend of furniture-rental startups that are targeting young renters who would rather pay a monthly fee for a couch than buy it in full price and have to move it later. Profiling several customers, the article explores why renting furniture is an appealing proposition. Gen Z founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, gave AP a generational…
The Decade Beauty Retail Stepped Out From Behind the Counter
Fortune looks back at how beauty retailing transformed over the 2010s — a decade that saw indie, digitally native brands like Glossier breaking through on social media, and specialty chains like Sephora and Ulta gaining ground all while department-store beauty sales slid. Analysts and brand founders explain how Instagram and influencers reshaped where and how people discover beauty. Gen Z…
The Brands that Teens Built
Business of Fashion looks back at how Gen Z and social media changed teen retailing over the 2010s. The decade which started with fast-fashion chains like Forever 21 setting trends from the mall has ended with that chain in bankruptcy. The traditional teen retailing players gave in to new brands that were built for a world where discovery is dictated…
Could Adding a Children’s Wear Category Save Some Apparel Brands?
The Sourcing Journal examines why apparel brands and retailers are entering the children’s wear category despite flat U.S. birth rate and the recent collapse of Gymboree. One growth driver the article discusses is the “mini-me” trend, where parents dress their kids in outfits that match theirs. Gen Z’s Planet founder, Hana Ben-Shabat, told Sourcing Journal that the trend has been…
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