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The Secrets Behind How Millennial Moms Buy Lawn Mowers
- by Maria Bailey , Columnist, June 4, 2019
Just in time for Father’s Day, we’ve uncovered the shopper mystery of how the youngest of millennial moms buy a lawn mower. You may think that this is an odd topic to ponder, but the insights gathered actually allow brands to understand the consumer path to purchase in this lucrative market -- and other similar ones.
I have to credit this topic to a marketing executive in the audience of a Millennial Mom Panel I moderated last week at a retail conference. It was among the most bizarre questions I’ve ever heard asked — but one that unearthed great insights.
To put the discussion into context, the mom panel was comprised of six Gen Z and young millennial moms. Earlier, they had all agreed that Amazon and Instagram were their go-to product research tools, but what about for a lawn mower? Here’s the path to purchase that our moms traveled to that perfect Father’s day gift:
Friends: The first stop on their purchasing journey was friends. They agreed that a lawn mower is a large purchase, so they found the experiences of their peers to be important. A quick post in a private Facebook group or a text message to gal pals helps them find a starting point. Purchases over $200 usually warrant the help of friends, the group added.
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Online reviews: None of our moms would purchase a new product without reading online reviews. Amazon is typically the first stop for reviews, even if they are written by strangers. Mom will also visit Pinterest and Instagram. The moms said that Pinterest is an overlooked platform by brands. They use Pinterest because the reviews are typically part of a longer blog. For research, these longer formats are filled with details that are quite helpful to them.
Sale emails and website specials: Once she has decided on brand and style, price is her next concern. The Gen Z mom is particularly frugal, and she wants to know she is getting a good deal. Our mom panel agreed that they learn about deals via email and by visiting retailer websites. They compare prices across multiple sites and search for online coupons to earn extra savings.
Ease of delivery: Our moms agreed that delivery is the new norm for shopping — and unless they need it today, they are likely to have items shipped to their home. They said that making delivery easy and FREE goes a long way in winning their loyalty. Free shipping will seal the deal and earn her business.
With just a few weeks until Father’s Day, now is a great time to make sure you have plenty of great product reviews available, and Facebook pages full of deals and coupons.
5 comments about "The Secrets Behind How Millennial Moms Buy Lawn Mowers".
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Maria, loved the headline...but stopped when noted the sample size was 6. Too bad, great topic that needs exploration.
Thank you James for your comment. You are right due to word count I had to restrict the amount of research I could add to the article I probably should have cited that these insights are confirmed by a larger body of research in my book, "Millennial Moms: 202 Facts to Build Brands and Drive Sales." I'd be happy to provide you more numbers if you want them. Just to add to the article and based on over 3000 Millennial women, 90% of Millennials consult reviews prior to purchasing a product. Amazon is typically the source. 66% of Millennials say email is a source of deals and coupons for them and they appreciate emails with deals. I look forward to sharing more in my new book, "Marketing to the Gen Z Mom" coming out this Fall.
Maria, thanks kindly for the additional information and clarification. Your work is consistent with what we have found (millennials), although we've noted some differences in terms of product category. We look forward to the release of your upcoming book, it should be of great assistance; adding some precision to millennial female marketing practices.
Maria, it would be great to se the "big" data.
I sort of lost focus on this article when I saw the sample size was six and three were Gen Z moms. Unless the Gen Z moms were from Mississippi or maybe South Dakota, we might be hard pressed to find three Gen Z moms (maybe 22-23 age) who are in the market to buy a lawn mower. At that age, are they married (low probability), are they moms (low probability)? And can we find them as homeowners needing a lawn mower?