
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook The Gen X Shopper - Where We Buy #366
Jan 23, 2026
50:30
Stephanie Cegielski is Vice President, Research and Public Relations at ICSC, where she leads consumer research initiatives. Cegielski explains why Generation X—born between 1965 and 1980—represents a significant but overlooked opportunity for retailers and shopping center owners. Despite comprising only 19% of the U.S. population, Gen X accounts for a third of total consumer spending. She discusses Gen X shopping behaviors, including their preference for in-store experiences over online shopping, their resistance to social media influencer marketing, and their focus on high-dollar purchases like luxury goods. Joining the discussion are Ana Leon, Director of Retail Research at Nuveen; Mike Jordan, Director of Research at Big V Property Group; Gregg Katz, Director, Business Industry Solutions - Real Estate at Esri; and Meghann Martindale, Principal, Director Market Intelligence, Retail at Avison Young. The panel explores how Gen X's unique position as the "sandwich generation"—caring for aging parents while supporting their own children—drives their spending patterns, and why this generation's hybrid approach to technology makes them the ideal omnichannel consumer. James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.
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Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com
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Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.
