Ask Gen Z

Credit cards? OK, boomer. Payment plans? Now that’s what Gen Z is about. These days, “buy now, pay later” programs are the new shopping wave. Plus, from streaming services to fashion labels, brands are making the shopping experience more inclusive by offering loyal customers special access to products. But what's the psychology behind these initiatives, and how can you take advantage of the “accessible shopping” trend as a marketer? Find out in today's episode, where creative strategists Jeremiah Jones and Sydney N. Sweeney discuss Gen-Z purchase drivers, what "inclusive shopping" means to them, and how you can think more creatively about how to get Gen Z to click that “place order” button.

DEI this, DEI that  It’s been two years since the police killing of George Floyd, which triggered every industry (from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector and beyond) to reassess their respective roles in upholding white supremacy through discriminatory business practices. But what’s *really* changed since brands and organizations claimed to “do the work” and address DEI issues? On this episode of Ask Gen Z, hosts Jeremiah Jones and Sydney N. Sweeney address the complex relationship between Black creatives and the economy that suppresses them — not only in terms of compensation, but socioeconomic opportunities in general.

What does it mean to “do the most”? Well, a Gen Zer would tell you that “doing the most” is being extra — doing unnecessary things that nobody asked for. On this episode of Ask Gen Z, hosts Jeremiah Jones and Sydney N. Sweeney talk all about brands’ tendencies to “do too much” when it comes to product innovation to tech. The creative strategists also discuss product failures and successes — from Instagram and YouTube updates to McDonald’s pizzas and Rihanna’s billion-dollar beauty label.

You get a podcast, you get a podcast, you get a podcast! On this episode of Ask Gen Z, hosts Jeremiah Jones and Sydney N. Sweeney answer the question that’s been keeping marketing professionals up at night: Who is Gen Z’s Oprah Winfrey? The strategists also discuss the death of the mega-influencer, the rise of the micro-celebrity, what Gen Z considers “star power,” and how brands can rethink their approach to influencer marketing.