Wondering what the consumer trends for 2025 will be? Well, most businesses lack the tools, real-time data, and insights to anticipate them and that’s where we come in! To help you stay updated with these rapid changes, we have uncovered consumer trends for 2025. From AI in personalization, to demand for sustainability, and expectations for shopping experiences packed with actionable insights so you can successfully adapt to these shifts. But understanding these trends is just the beginning. Want to stay ahead of the curve in 2025? Check out our New Year page to future-proof your growth strategy with Interactive Content.
Now, let’s hop into the top 10 consumer trends you need to watch out for!
Dive into our blog post to uncover:
What are consumer trends?
Consumer trends refer to the shift in how consumers behave and what they spend on.
Attitudes, behaviors, and spending patterns of consumers are shaped by factors such as the:
- Economy
- Technology
- Society
- Environment
As we enter a new year, these top global trends are evolving quickly and posing challenges to businesses.
But why do these consumer trends matter to you? Great question, glad you asked! A lot of businesses struggle to:
- Meet consumer’s expectations.
- Address shifting behaviors because they do not have the right data or insights.
- Differentiate their brand in a competitive market.
So, what’s at stake for you? You are asking all the right questions.
Businesses that cannot adapt risk losing customers to competitors who are quicker, smarter, and better at giving people what they want.
On the flip side, businesses that embrace these changes will build stronger relationships, win customer loyalty, and grow like never before.
Having said that, are you ready to tackle these trends and turn them into wins? Keep reading to uncover the key consumer trends for 2025!
Top 10 consumer trends for 2025 you need to watch
To help you roll with the changes, we have compiled the top 10 consumer trends of 2025 that you need to note down. We have also included actionable insights to help you adapt and tackle these challenges,
1. Customers are shopping smarter
Did you know inflation rates are expected to drop from 5.4% in 2024 to 3.8% in 2025? Sounds like great news, doesn’t it? It is! But there is still a risk of upside inflation and with this concern, we can see an emerging trend of customers learning to shop smarter by prioritizing good deals, value for money purchases, and researching extensively before buying. Additionally, in the past year, 94% of global consumers have used smart shopping strategies (YouGov). So how can you help customers shop smarter?
Actionable insights:
- Offer discounts and bundle products to attract budget-conscious shoppers.
- Create comparison tools and Product Recommenders to simplify the decision-making process and reduce buyer’s remorse.
2. Personalization, AI, and privacy concerns
Wouldn’t shopping become more exciting and convenient if it was tailored to you? Global customers agree too! They are expecting brands to deliver personalized experiences both in-store and online and AI is making that possible. Moreover, it is enhancing the shopping experience and improving customer interactions for the better as 70% of brands agree that it will impact their personalization and marketing strategies.
Yes, customers want personalization, but they also want their privacy respected as 79% of consumers worry about data privacy. In fact, respecting customers’ privacy is a strong foundation for a loyal customer base. How do you implement AI and offer personalization while respecting these concerns?
Actionable insights:
- Create personalized shopping experiences both in-store and online.
- Adopt AI for predictive insights and personalized recommendations and develop customized approaches for individual customers.
- Use zero and first-party data for personalization over external sources to maintain transparency and trust.
3. Authenticity is the real deal
Have you seen the pictures and videos generated by AI? It’s mind-blowing what AI can do and how much it can save you with just a detailed prompt. But recently, consumers are mistaking AI content for reality leading to a demand from 90% of global consumers to know if an image has been AI-generated. Although it is useful for brands who don’t have the time or money, 86% of customers say authenticity is key in choosing a brand.
Industries that are expected to remain transparent because of high levels of consumer trust are:
- Healthcare
- Financial Services
- Travel
Actionable insights:
- State and label if content is AI to avoid misleading consumers.
- Using genuine content to maintain brand credibility.
- Pre-shot content engages customers better.
4. Shift towards sustainability
Are you worried about the rising temperature and the long-term effects of climate change? Many people are too! Climate change has made sustainability one of the consumer trends for 2025. For instance, brands that showed suitable efforts and marketed their products as sustainable grew 2.7x faster than those that were not. Moreover, 77% of brands also said that sustainability boosted customer loyalty.
Actionable insights:
- Communicate your sustainable efforts to attract environmentally conscious shoppers.
- Prove your long-term commitment to sustainability to increase customer loyalty.
5. Shopping experiences matter the most
Your products matter but so do shopping experiences! Customers want to be engaged throughout their shopping journey. According to Customer Experience Statistics, 86% of customers are willing to pay more for a great customer experience and 46% for convenience, highlighting engaging shopping experiences as the consumer trends for 2025.
But did you know interactive shopping has made its way into the experience? Notably, brands are adopting AR try-ons and VR previews for clothes, furniture and makeup so customers can try them on or get a preview.
Actionable insights:
- Offer interactivity such as AR, VR, and Interactive Content to create memorable experiences for shoppers.
- Focus on crafting shopping experiences that engage shoppers throughout the journey.
6. Social media for brand discovery
Have you noticed how social media is becoming the go-to place for discovering new brands? In fact, about 44% of Gen Z find new brands daily just by scrolling! Additionally, social commerce has taken center stage for retailers with numbers set to triple in 2025 with consumers shopping directly from their feeds on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Shop. So, are you ready to tap into this consumer trend for 2025?
Actionable insights:
- If you are a smaller brand, develop a strong social media presence and utilize social commerce instead of creating a separate store.
- Use social media as a tool to boost brand visibility and awareness
7. Omnichannel for shopping
Can you remember a time when you used to shop on one channel? Long gone are those days. For instance, we now have the privilege and convenience to easily obtain products because of online shopping and social commerce. According to Omnichannel Statistics, 73% of customers shop with various channels such as online, in-store, and mobile, indicating omnichannel shopping as the emerging consumer trend for 2025. Moreover, 87% of store owners believe using many channels to reach customers is essential.
Actionable insights:
- Have more than one shopping channel such as online, commerce, and brick-and-mortar available to reach more customers.
- Create a seamless and interconnected omnichannel shopping experience so customers can transition smoothly between these methods.
8. Brand loyalty is decreasing
Customer loyalty just isn’t the same anymore, it is declining by 14% in the US. For example, factors such as price, sustainable practices, convenience, and personalization contribute to customers switching brands. According to the Customer Loyalty Index, 59% of consumers would switch products because of a cheaper option. How can you overcome this consumer trend and retain your customers?
Actionable insights:
- Invest in customer loyalty programs to increase customer retention rates.
- Stay relevant by implementing sustainability efforts and offering personalization.
9. Seeking transformational moments
What brings you the most joy? I’m sure there are positive experiences in your life that you look back on and cherish. Well, consumers are now seeking experiences that make them feel good, according to Top Global Consumer Trends 2025. Instead of just shopping for products, they are seeking experiences that uplift them. How can brands use this to their advantage?
Actionable insights:
- Utilize emotional storytelling to communicate how your product can bring joy and meaningful moments to customers.
- Enhance customer’s daily experiences and tap into these moments by offering sensory and emotional uplifts.
10. Buy now, pay later as a payment method
Buy now, pay later, how convenient is that? Customers now have options with this flexible payment method that allows them to instantly buy an item. Did you know global consumers are adopting this payment method? Evidently, 380 million shoppers are using this service globally and this will increase to 670 million by 2028. Want to know how you can adapt to this trend?
Actionable insights:
- Offer multiple payment methods to customers such as cash, e-wallet, credit, debit and more, for convenience.
- Adopt the buy now pay later method as it allows customers to shop without feeling the strain and encourages them to shop despite the risks of inflation.
We hope these consumer trends for 2025 will be useful in your strategic planning for this year. Now, let’s look at how it will affect businesses.
How will shifting consumer trends affect businesses?
Emerging consumer trends can impact businesses in a couple of ways:
- Loss of market share. Not adapting to what consumers want could make you lose your share to your competitors. If you don’t innovate or adapt to these changes your customers will seek your competitors instead.
- Reduced profits. Your profits will drop if your product or services no longer meet customer expectations.
- Customer base will jump to your competitors. You could risk losing your customers to your competitors if you are not aware of emerging consumer trends and if you lack adaptability and innovation.
How Interactive Content can help you meet consumer trends for 2025
What is Interactive Content? In short, Interactive Content is content that encourages your audience to actively participate. For instance, this could be by making them take a quiz, flip a page, play a marketing game, or answer questions to find the perfect gift.
This type of content is revolutionary as it changes the way brands interact with their audiences. In addition, it can increase brand awareness and engagement, boost sales, distinguish you from the competition and even collect customer data.
RELATED: What Is Interactive Content? The Best Guide to Start!
Now that you understand what it is, here are some ways you can use it to meet consumer trends.
1. Personalization
Interactive Content can be used for personalization. For example, you can use Interactive Quizzes, Online Surveys, and Polls to ask your customers questions to get to know them better. Additionally, find out what they like by creating an Interactive Poll of your product to understand what features they like and what you can improve on. These Interactive Experiences allow you to collect zero and first-party data which aligns with consumer privacy concerns.
RELATED: 6 Examples of personalized marketing for beautiful customer experiences
2. Enhance the shopping experience
Meet consumer trends for 2025 by meeting their expectation of an engaging shopping experience. Since customers want to be engaged during their shopping journey, try out Interactive Experiences such as Gift Finders, Product Recommenders, Shoppable Videos, and Interactive Video Quizzes. These experiences make it fun and easy for customers to find products, creating a lasting impression of your brand.
Check out an example from our client The Perfume Shop who made shopping for Father’s Day gift fun and memorable for shoppers with a Father’s Day Gift Finder. They created an Interactive Video Quiz that allowed them to learn about customers’ preferences and collect zero-party data.
3. Boost brand loyalty
Interactive Experiences such as Online Advent Calendars can help boost brand loyalty and increase customer retention rates. Moreover, using this experience encourages customers to visit your store or website by providing them with a special gift such as rewards, discounts, free samples, and vouchers. Additionally, customers can unlock new gifts by returning to your store each day, this incentivizes them to spend, increases website visits, and boosts brand loyalty.
4. Help customers shop smarter
Lastly, brands can meet consumer trends by helping their customers shop smarter. Customers are being smart about how they spend because of the economy. Despite this, brands can provide value to them by offering discounts and rewarding customers using Marketing Games. Moreover, Interactive Calculators can also help customers make smarter purchase decisions which they will really value.
Adapt to consumer trends in 2025 with Interactive Content
To stay ahead in 2025, you must keep up with consumer trends or risk losing your customers, profits, and market share faster than you can say, “Oops, I missed this opportunity!”
The secret? Start the year with a solid plan (and if you have not started yet, now is the time!). Make sure your 2025 business strategy aligns with consumer expectations to drive growth and stay relevant.
Want to take it up a notch? Add Interactive Content to the mix to support you in meeting customer expectations and trends. With Dot.vu, engaging your customers and creating memorable experiences is made easier. Our Interactive Platform allows you to build Interactive Experiences with over 350+ customizable templates, a drag-and-drop builder, over 20+ engaging Interactive Experiences to choose from.
Stay ahead of shifting consumer trends by exploring our platform. Sign up for a 14-Day Free Trial today and start building experiences that leave a lasting impact.
