NEW YORK Younger generations create new slang terminology every day, which contributes to the ongoing evolution of modern language. Are you sick of hearing the phrase "vibes" all the time? Don't only blame Generation Z for utilizing it; Millennials are also guilty of it.
That's just one finding from a poll of 3,000 North Americans, evenly divided by generation. The survey's goal was to learn what factors could affect how various groups engage with offices and other local businesses like restaurants, cafés, motels, and more.
While those between the ages of 18 and 26 were more likely than those between the ages of 27 and 42 to use the word "vibes" to describe how a location feels (48%), Gen Z Americans (47% vs. 42%) even outperformed them. That represents almost twice as many baby boomers between the ages of 59 and 77 in both nations combined (22%).
What do 'vibes' mean for business?
More than one-third of respondents (45%) claimed it takes them less than ten minutes to figure out how a new place feels to them, demonstrating that "vibes" may have an instant influence on the success of a business space even if they don't use the word itself.
The poll, which was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Ambius, also revealed that 83 percent of respondents, regardless of age, were more likely to return to a place of business after getting a positive feeling about it. Similarly, 82% of people felt less inclined to return to a place of business after having a negative experience there.
More than one-third (35%) even stated that they would actively discourage people from visiting after a negative encounter; this included more millennials (40%) than any other group and more American respondents (36%) than Canadian respondents (30%). While 42% of all Gen Zers (those between the ages of 18 and 26) said they would never return.
Respondents were as likely to cite an improved environment (54%), and better service (54%), as the reasons they would return despite the failed "vibe check," demonstrating that, in some circumstances, ambience may be just as persuasive as positive customer encounters.
Keys to success
According to a statement by Lorri MacHarg, the President of Ambius, possessing a well-furnished area does not necessarily require being well-informed about all contemporary design fads. Visitors are more likely to engage with your business since it shows them that you actively care about both the space itself and the experiences of individuals who use it.
Despite 19% of the participants indicating modern architecture as a sign of positive vibes, a greater majority opted for cleanliness (53%), windows (32%), and pleasing aromas (31%) as preferred indicators. Of course, among those surveyed, "unpleasant smells" were the top predictor of negative energy (53%), followed by "dirty environments" (41%), and "dead or unkempt plants" (32%).
Although design fads come and go, respondents to the poll felt that nature-inspired designs, such as accents made of wood and ornamental plants (32%), gave off the greatest vibes overall.
According to MacHarg, plants ought to encompass a more substantive role beyond being merely an aesthetically-driven choice, since their impact extends beyond adding visual interest and vitality to a space. Plants, especially green walls, have the potential to filter pollutants out of the air and lower carbon dioxide levels, which can help with weariness, focus, and productivity. Plants can also improve psychological comfort and wellbeing, among other things. Since it has been discovered that being among plants may help people feel less stressed, they have also been venerated for their effects on mental health.
Survey methodology:
Between March 24 and April 24, 2023, Ambius commissioned a random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population U.S. residents and 1040 Canadians, evenly divided by generation. It was carried out by the market research firm OnePoll, whose members are also members of the Market Research Society, the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).