We are at a place in this day and age where we work to buy. We work to buy houses, cars, necessities and other "stuff." We buy things that we think will make us happy when really, those things are just filling a void in our life that we do not know how to fix.
We rank our level of success by how much money we earn and by the amount of stuff we have. As humans, we want the next big thing, so we upgrade our cars and technology. While it is not a crime to want things or to want to better the things you have, you should ask yourself why you are doing it. Just as humans can get addicted to drugs or alcohol, you can also get addicted to buying stuff. Retail thrives on modern consumerism, with the tech enthusiasts and impulse buyers. What does this mean for the retail industry? How can retailers advertise to this particular lifestyle if it continues to pick up?
I recently came across a documentary on Netflix called "Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things." The documentary follows two best friends that started out as high-up businessmen and are now completely engulfed into a minimalist lifestyle. They got rid of all of their excess stuff and began to live minimally.
SEE ALSO: Actually, Minimalism Only Works If You're Rich
They wrote a book and traveled the world to spread their message. These minimalists' story got me thinking about how minimalism affects the retail industry. If everyone got rid of his or her excess stuff, moved into tiny houses and made the life change to stop buying things to fill their voids, then how will the fall of the retail industry impact our economy?
Retail's biggest incentive is the stuff that you are buying. Everything is advertised to sell itself. What sort of incentives would appeal to those who do not want any more excess stuff? Some people that have adopted a minimalist lifestyle have done it for moralistic reasons. It does not sit well with them that so many people are in need, yet they have so much excess in their lives.
Since minimalism can sometimes be viewed as a selfless act, an incentive to helping others could be a way to still market to minimalist consumers. Let's take a company such as TOMS, for example. If you buy a pair of TOMS, you give a pair to a child in need. This sort of incentive is beneficial as it fills a void for someone else.
Another incentive would be the emergence of technology. Technology is growing and revolutionizing every single day. We have cars that drive themselves and a device that turns on the lights when you clap. Technology makes our lives easier and even minimal.
Smart TVs and digital books illuminated the need for DVDs and books. With minimalism on the rise, technology will advance with it as one of the best marketing tools for people who want to minimize their belongings.
