Guest speaker Scott Millar will host a session at 2 pm on Sunday (23 August) discussing strategies for bridging the gap between older jewellery business owners and the next generation of both consumers and employees.
It’s a topic that has been central to Millar’s work as a 'generational consultant', helping organisations and businesses around the world familiarise themselves with the expectations and desires of future consumers and staff.
“The next generation is growing up fast. The oldest members of Generation Z are now entering their late 20s and early 30s, while Generation Alpha is beginning to finish high school,” he tells Jeweller.
“Together, they represent the future customers who will be celebrating engagements, weddings, milestone birthdays, anniversaries and countless other moments that jewellery retailers have always been part of.
“This session will challenge some of the common misconceptions about younger consumers, highlight the opportunities they present, and provide practical strategies that jewellery businesses can use to build trust, create memorable customer experiences and earn long-term loyalty.”
Topics will include what's driving Gen Z spending behaviour and how those motivations differ from previous generations; the influence of creators, algorithms, and AI on purchasing decisions.
Millar will also discuss real-world case studies of global businesses and brands succeeding — and failing — to capture Gen Z's attention, as well as practical strategies that businesses can implement immediately.
“I hope attendees walk away seeing the next generation of consumers a little differently. There are a lot of misconceptions about Gen Z, but when you understand what has shaped this generation, their behaviours start to make much more sense,” he explained.
“My goal is for jewellers to leave with practical insights they can immediately apply to everything from their marketing and customer experience to how they tell the stories behind their products. The businesses that understand the next generation today will be the ones building loyal customers for decades to come.”
The International Jewellery Fair will be hosted at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Sydney from 22-24 August 2026.
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