Smart Millennials and their Changing Shopping Trends: A Case of Millennial Students in Nellore

Shopping habits among people change with the change in generation. Each generation is characterized by unique habits and preferences. Understanding the changing trends becomes paramount for retailers to suit their business strategies to the new-age customers. On the other hand, reforms in the industry and pressures from competition throws open new vistas for today's retailers. In this connection, a study has been initiated to understand the changing shopping trends among millennials. The chief objective of the study is to find the changing habits of millennials in terms of their online buying, the penetration of smart-phone into their purchase process and their satisfaction towards online purchase. A sample of 135 respondents in Nellore was approached for a survey and after a few rejections; data from a total of 128 respondents was gathered using a structured questionnaire. The data gathered was thoroughly analyzed using statistical tools and the findings were presented. The results of the study state that the new-gen shoppers who are termed as millennials are coming up with unprecedented shopping habits and preferences. Most of the millennials own a smartphone or two which has disrupted the shopping trends in the market. Smart Millennials, the ones who belong to millennial generation and who own a smartphone are ubiquitous. Smartphones have penetrated deep into their personal lives. Smart millenials are welcoming experiments in product delivery and payment methods, spurring online shopping trend. However, there exist a few cases, if not many in which these smart millennials are slurred by a few online retailers by way failed delivery of product ordered. The study concludes that smart millennials are going to make a huge pie of the market in the years ahead and with the changing times comes the need for the retailers to fine-tune business as well.