Young(er) people are often characterized as irresponsible and reckless when it comes to securing their future.

But it might be hard to say that about Gen Zers, who are ahead of Millenials and Gen Xers when it comes to homeownership. In 2022, 30% of 25-year-olds owned their home, compared to the 27% rate of Gen Xers and 28% of Millennials when they were the same age, according to a Redfin study.

• Plus, the cohort is highly motivated: 71.5% of Zoomers plan to buy their first home in the next one to six years, with 37.2% as soon as one to three years, according to Rocket Mortgage. Many took advantage of the home-buying frenzy of 2020 and 2021 when mortgage rates plummeted.

So, it appears that within the next six years, home improvement and home-furnishing retailers will need to prepare to cater to Zoomers, who value sustainably sourced products that are personalized and don’t sacrifice quality for the sake of convenience, sources told Retail Brew. In preparation, retailers should re-evaluate inventory management practices and pricing strategies for when Zoomers dominate the housing market.

Quality over quantity: Traditionally, retailers have focused on maintaining large inventories to meet consumer demand, James Scaife, commercial director at high-end furniture retailer Olson and Baker, told Retail Brew. As we previously reported, oversupplying is often a pitfall in managing inventory. And Zoomers have changed how retailers think about inventory lead times, Scaife said.

• Scaife said his company keeps next to no excess stock and selectively chooses pieces that align with Gen Z’s tastes.

Keep reading here.—KM

The future of work is all about flexibility, but making it work for your team can be tricky. Whether you clock in from the store, at home, or on the go, Cisco’s solutions empower retail pros to thrive in any work environment.

Cisco has the networking, security, and collaboration tools to deliver frictionless user experiences so you can give your supply chain and entire business the agility needed to delight your customers. With their hybrid work solutions, you can ensure your employees maintain access to necessary applications without compromising security.

Ready to offer your team the freedom to work efficiently from anywhere? Chat with an expert from Cisco to find the right solutions tailored for your hybrid work environment.

Book your consultation with a specialist.

Wasn’t it Wu-Tang who said “data rules everything around me”? Probably not, but that’s the premise here.

MikMak, an e-commerce acceleration platform, has upgraded its offering, which allows for e-commerce integration and analytics across media channels and brand websites, founder and CEO Rachel Tipograph told Retail Brew. Retailers come to MikMak as a way to boost sales by upping traffic from “high-intent shoppers,” and brands that sell across retailers can increase their market share and cut back on costs.

The deets: The new iteration, MikMak 3.0, puts the company’s capabilities on steroids, and includes:

• Retailer integrations such as more visible sales data
• Commerce experiences across touchpoints including retail media, websites, CTV, search, and QR codes
• Integrations with third-party data visualization, analytics, and production information management platforms
• And updated features like embedded ad units and integrated coupons.

MikMak will work with current clients to upgrade their capabilities, while new partners will use MikMak 3.0 from the outset.

Keep reading here.—KM

On Wednesdays, we wear pink spotlight Retail Brew’s readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

Julie Oxner’s 26-year retail career includes over 15 years at Procter & Gamble. Now, she’s SVP of business intelligence at Acosta Group, focusing on revenue growth management, e-commerce insights, supply chain, and advanced analytics and data science.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I use data and insights to solve problems for manufacturers and retailers so they can remove barriers to growth.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? In my job, I’m a “connector.” I connect clients and retailers with the right solution to address their problems. Whether connecting customers with my team or another Acosta Group team, we can always help.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? My favorite project has been leading the revenue growth management (RGM) training and certification of 1,500 people across our sales and business insights team. It was great for my team to work with so many people across our organization to achieve this objective. This commitment from Acosta Group’s leadership in the emerging focus area of RGM is helping us change the game for our clients and our associates.

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about this year, and why? I’m excited about the emergence of ChatGPT to see how it will be integrated into our everyday lives both at work and personally.

Keep reading here.—EC

Today’s top retail reads.

Fish out of water: In Philadelphia, more than 13,000 people hold fishing licenses, but only a single family-owned bait and tackle store remains in the city, overrun by sporting goods chains and retailers like Bass Pro Shops. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Port authority: Contract negotiations for California dock workers are leading to backups—and retailers are pushing for action. (the Wall Street Journal)

Cutting school: Retailers like Walmart and Foot Locker are gearing up for a tough back-to-school shopping season. (Reuters)

Flexible work FTW: Embrace hybrid work with all the right tools. Cisco’s solutions empower you to stay connected effortlessly and efficiently with your team—no matter where they are. Connect with an expert.*

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Catch up on the Retail Brew stories you may have missed.

• Ipsy’s CMO shares the keys to beauty-box success
• Consumers pretty much hate customer service
• Overstock’s pivot from liquidator to furniture retailer