Kiosks & Kids: Attracting A Tech-Savvy Generation Through Education And Play

By Ryan Lepianka, Creative Director, Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc.

When I walk through retail environments, I am on constant alert – looking for innovative design concepts, unique displays and the ways consumers engage with their surroundings. 

Recently, I was walking through a department store and noticed a mother shopping with her young child. The little boy, not much older than three, sat quietly playing with his mother’s iPhone. I was intrigued by this young person – barely able to form a sentence – using such advanced technology with ease. Later on, I passed the family again. The child, now removed from the stroller, ran up to a nearby kiosk and began playing. The thing is, while he may have just been playing, he was using the kiosk correctly – scrolling through images and clicking on various options.

This got me thinking…

As the Creative Director for an in-store merchandising company, I take into account a woman’s perspective. Statistically, women have been noted to account for 85% of all consumer purchases. But, what about kids? How do we consider their influence in retail merchandising?

While I am unsure on the exact percentage, a child’s influence extends beyond the toy and fashion industries through the food, beverage, confectionary, and technology. Their influence provides them with a power over a variety of purchases but, in turn, provides marketers with a greater target audience. A child’s influence depends on the specific product but remains relevant regardless of the industry. So, how do we attract them?

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