SUNDAY TIMES GEN NEXT

Traditionally, the Sunday Times Gen Next event in partnership with HDI Youth Consultancy, now in its 16th year, is the leading annual youth brand preference and consumer behaviour event.

The results of the survey conducted by HDI Youth Consultancy are particularly relevant to brands and advertisers. Sunday Times Gen Next has reflected on strategic priorities and are embracing resilience strategies to protect against marketing disruption and to retain and captivate the youth by keeping things advancing forward, in a digitised format.

RESEARCH STUDY

Keeping track of how youth interact with, and respond to brands is an ongoing process. Started in 2004, the Sunday Times Gen Next study undertaken by HDI Youth Marketeers is now the leading annual youth brand preference and consumer behaviour survey, polling over 5,500 youths aged 8 to 23 and young professionals aged 24 – 30. Results are released in the Sunday Times annually, and it culminates in a glittering awards event that recognises the coolest brands and celebrities.

Partnered with the Sunday Times in 2004

Over 90 000 youth polled since inception

Over 300 field staff since 2004

Three categories:

Kids 8 – 13
Teens 14 – 18
Young Adults 19 – 23

Polling and lifestyle results

Multiple high quality modules produced

DIGITAL INTERACTIVE SHOWCASE

September 2021 will see 300 youth gather to interact and engage with the brands through displays, activations and competitions. There will be 2 time slots consisting of 150 youths at a time to accommodate social distancing. Age groups will include those between 8-23.

YOUTH MARKETING CONFERENCE

Marketing gurus in the youth space give insight into how to crack the youth market, especially when it comes to this “new norm”. This will be a digital series of 6 events between February and August 2021 that leads up to the final Awards announcement taking place on the 9th September.

AWARDS CEREMONY

On the evening of the interactive showcase, we will reward the coolest brands as voted by youth. This will be by invite for the top 3 finalists in each category to accommodate social distancing. The Awards will be live streamed to the broader marketing industry to ensure they don’t miss out.