You’ve heard it a million times: millenials are killing industries, from the cereal industry to the razor industry and everything in between. There are studies that show it’s not because they’re anti-consumer, but rather that, well, they’re just poor. That said, millenials are also the most important consumer class right now; as Baby Boomers keep aging, millenials and the members of Gen Z, who we don’t have an established catchy name for yet, are the largest working and consuming generation. That means we have to start designing our spaces with millennial employees and consumers in mind, and that can start with your flooring.
Marketing to an entire generation is an impossible task; each one is filled with individuals with different tastes, desires and preferences. That said, we can try to target some commonalities within the generation. Millennials on the whole seem to be less focused on material things, and more focused on experience-driven spending. That means your store should provide sensory delights; you need a reason to shop in a retail space instead of online. Your flooring can become a part of this; choosing colourful patterns that suit your overall aesthetic is a great way of drawing millenials in.
When focusing on millennial employees, comfort and accessibility are key. You’ll want to design your floor with free-flowing concept in mind; the ability to move around and interact in a common space, while being able to retreat to an isolated office or cubicle, is quite important to millenials, who tend to only be extroverted in bouts. Consider designing a space that is eminently wheelchair accessible; millennials tend to admire efforts to make a space easy to navigate for those who have different mobility needs. Comfortable flooring means it has to have qualities that make it walkable; anti-slip coatings and synthetic materials that are shock-absorbant are great choices.
These generations tend to be very concerned about climate change, so choosing green materials is an excellent idea. Concrete has a reputation of being not as green as some other materials, but when you look at it from a long-term standpoint, there’s a lot to like about it. Trees don’t need to be cut, so there’s less concern about clear cutting forests; concrete is also exceptionally durable, so you won’t have to replace the floor regularly. The less you have to replace your flooring, the greener it is, because less resources need to be expended over the same amount of time.
The best way to get concrete that suits millennials is to invest in polished concrete. Polished concrete toppings can create beautiful patterns, and with proper sealer , the material can be incredibly walkable and slip-resistant. A qualified concrete polishing company will have your flooring looking amazing and millennial friendly in no time flat!
