Travelers with children present opportunities for travel retail, says m1nd-set
The Swiss agency’s latest research demonstrates that the family traveler segment represents greater opportunities for global travel retail. Based on recent interviews conducted with more than 12,000 international passengers at more than 60 airports across the globe, the research reveals that travelers with children are more likely to visit the duty free shops, as well as purchase in the stores and have a higher average spend than shoppers who are not travelling with children.
Higher spend and more items purchased
The research reveals that 46% of all passengers traveling with children visited the shops at the airport at some point on their last international trip compared to 42% of travelers without children. Among those who purchased, the average spend by shoppers with children was significantly higher compared to travelers without children. Average spend per item is also higher among shoppers with children, according to m1nd-set, at US$42 on average for shoppers with children compared to US$39 for shoppers traveling without children.
Shoppers with children also spend significantly more on specific categories, namely electronics, clothing and accessories, jewelry & watches, alcohol and souvenirs & gifts. In terms of the number of items purchased, the shopping basket is also fuller for shoppers with children; they purchased slightly more products on average compared to shoppers without children.
m1nd-set owner & CEO Dr. Peter Mohn commented on the findings, “Children tend to deploy numerous strategies when influencing their parents to make a purchase; these range from aggressive and persuasive tactics to emotional tactics, plain rational or by demonstrating in-depth product knowledge. We see also that older children tend to wield greater influence over their parents shopping behavior. They tend to be more resourceful and better equipped with the extensive knowledge and information from influencers across social media."
“These are of course the much talked about and high potential Gen Z consumers, continued Mohn, “so while those who are not yet in the job market may not be spending themselves, they are still able to influence their parents’ shopping behavior. Adolescent and even pre-adolescent children tend to have better understanding of the latest trends and cool brands; they serve as the information-gatherers and tend to advocate for specific brands.”
Middle aged pre-planners
According to m1nd-set, shoppers traveling with children are mainly middle-aged; 65% of shop visitors traveling with children were middle aged vs. 46% of visitors traveling without children. They also have a tendency to pre-plan their purchases in the duty free shops; 49% of shoppers traveling with children planned their visits compared to 45% among travelers without children.
Purchase destination and drivers
The research also reveals that shoppers with children are driven predominantly by value both to visit the shops and to purchase. They purchase to share more than those without children (18% vs. 12%). The experience in store and ability to navigate easily through the store is more likely to encourage shoppers with children to purchase than those without. Recommendations from friends tend to have more influence on shoppers with children also. There is a significant difference in shopping behavior vis à vis promotions across the two segments. Sixty-two percent of shoppers traveling with children said they purchased a promotion compared to only just over half (51%) of shoppers without children. They also tend to buy unique travel retail exclusive products more than shoppers traveling without children.
Harnessing the ‘pester power’ potential
Commenting on how industry stakeholders can capitalize on the opportunity of families shopping in travel retail, Mohn added, “The influence that children, and the presence of children, have on their parents when traveling and shopping in duty free and travel retail stores is significant and not to be underestimated. To harness the potential of 'pester power' as the kids’ influence is often referred to, several factors need to be considered. Stakeholders need to consider where and how to reach these influencers with inclusive messaging that targets parents and their children."
"Brands need to create engaging, age-appropriate content and deliver it through the apps and websites where children source their information, he concluded. "It’s important to find new and unique ways to grab their attention, engage their senses and appeal to them, so they in turn appeal to their parents’ and their desire to please."
