EP53: Generational Shopping Differences in eCommerce: How Gen Z, Millennials & Boomers Shop Online

In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer, formally Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), Bryan MacDonald (Direct of eCommerce at Oma’s Pride) dive deep into the psychology of the purchase—unpacking how different generations shop, scroll, and swipe their way through the modern DTC landscape.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• One Strategy Does Not Fit All: Why you can’t speak to Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z the same way—and what actually clicks for each.
• Gen Z = Scroll to Buy: How mobile-first design and influencer-powered marketing dominate their shopping journey.
• Millennial Money Moves: Why this generation still cares about aesthetics and ethics—and how brands like Blue Bottle win their wallets.
• The Boomer Breakdown: What older generations value most (spoiler: it’s not your TikTok dance).
• From Hooters to Has-Beens: A wild case study on how brands fade when they don’t adapt to cultural shifts.
• Multi-Gen Marketing: Smart strategies for brands looking to connect across generational lines—without diluting the message.
  

Whether you’re building a brand for Gen Z hype or trying to win the trust of a Boomer buyer, this episode gives you the real insights and playbook to make it work.

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Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible!

Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences via email and sms with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/

Alia - An app that is revolutionizing how brands turn website visitors into loyal customers. With some of the highest performing pop ups in eCommerce, Alia is helping brands ditch traditional webforms and double down on education, personalization and conversion. We highly recommend you check out :https://www.alialearn.com/

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00:00 Teaser Trailer04:06 Intro to the ASOM Pod07:30 Generational Differences in Online Shopping13:16 Influencer Impact on Younger Generations21:51 Mobile Shopping Trends Among Gen Z23:05 Brand Ethics and Sustainability31:42 Older Generations' Shopping Preferences33:10 Generational Differences in Medical and Nutritional Advice34:13 Customer Support Preferences Across Generations35:13 The Impact of Generational Buying Behaviors on Business36:58 Exploring Boomer Brands: Walgreens and CVS39:14 Millennial Brands: The Rise of Blue Bottle Coffee41:32 Gen Z Brands: Chamberlain Coffee and Tabs Chocolate44:06 Marketing Strategies for Multi-Generational Brands01:01:16 A Case Study in Generational Shifts01:08:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Follow Jimmy Kim at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/yojimmykim

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim

Follow Bryan MacDonald at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/bryanomaspride

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@anythingbutasalad

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anythingbutasalad

Follow John Roman at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/@JohnMRoman

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-roman/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman

Follow Amer Grozdanic at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic

Contact us at hello@asompod.com for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!

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