Gen Z, people born between 1997 and 2012, are quickly becoming India’s biggest and most powerful group of shoppers.

With 377 million members-more than the population of the USA-Gen Z is already spending ₹71 lakh crore ($860 billion). By 2035, that number will grow to a huge ₹166 lakh crore ($2 trillion), meaning half of all money spent in India will come from this generation.

But Gen Z shops differently from older people.

They care more about what’s trending than brand names. They love using visuals like images, GIFs, and filters, and often share shopping choices with close friends and family through video calls or social media. They also look to influencers and creators for product suggestions instead of traditional ads.

What’s more, Gen Z blends online and offline shopping easily. Many check their phones while in a store or start shopping online and finish in a shop.

The big problem? Most brands are not ready. Only 15% are actively focusing on Gen Z, even though 45% know how important they are. To win Gen Z’s attention, companies need to be fast, visual, social, and use both online and offline strategies together