Study goals
Identify strategies that traditional retail can adopt to attract and engage digital natives, considering consumption preferences, experience expectations, and the integration between physical and digital channels, while exploring behavior, barriers, and the potential of retailtainment.
Relevance / originality
Addresses a current challenge in retail: engaging digital natives in the physical environment, proposing solutions that combine innovation, experience, and purpose, while filling a research gap on the integration of omnichannel strategies and retailtainment for new generations.
Methodology / approach
Qualitative, exploratory research with in-depth interviews conducted with young digital natives born between 2000 and 2007, using a semi-structured script based on the theoretical framework, aiming for theoretical saturation to identify behavioral patterns and preferences.
Main results
Digital natives value convenience, personalization, and omnichannel integration. Barriers include commuting, time, and lack of personalized service. Immersive experiences and retailtainment strengthen emotional bonds, increase average spending, and boost online sales.
Theoretical / methodological contributions
Expands the understanding of digital natives’ behavior in physical retail, validating the relevance of experiences and retailtainment, and proposes an omnichannel integration model applicable to future studies on consumption and experience management.
Social / management contributions
Provides practical insights for managers to adapt physical stores to digital expectations by integrating technology and human experience, fostering competitiveness, attracting young consumers, and strengthening the brand–customer relationship.