At the pandemic’s beginning, consumers stocked up on pantry items, cleaning supplies, and medicines. Planned improvements include easier online ordering, robust apps, faster delivery, and curb side pickup.
After the lockdowns ended, vaccines became available, and life returned to normal. Which of these new shopping habits would stick?
66% of consumers say their buying habits have permanently changed due to the pandemic, and 54% say they now feel normal. Despite the pandemic, five shopping behaviours appear to be here to stay.
Online shopping exploded during the pandemic. In 2021, e-commerce sales worldwide reached $4.9 trillion, primarily due to pandemic purchasing habits.
Despite safe returns to brick-and-mortar stores, e-commerce continues to grow. By 2025, experts predict sales will top $7 trillion.
For many shoppers, bulk buying has become a lasting habit. As a result, some shoppers started stocking up on food and household necessities despite stocked shelves.
Families are looking for ways to reduce expenses and hedge against inflation due to rising prices. People can stretch their food budgets by buying in bulk. Buying bulk quantities are often more cost-effective, allowing bulk meal prep, canning, and
freezing.
About half of consumers say the pandemic made them rethink their purpose. In addition, the Lacek Group’s global research shows that 50% of consumers value a brand’s values more today than ever.
In the first year of the pandemic, contactless payment and new options such as Buy Now Pay Later gained popularity.
However, 74% of consumers say they will continue to use a payment method they were unlikely to try before the pandemic. In addition to tap and pay, emerging contactless payment options include biometrics, QR codes, and digital currencies.
Volatility in sales is likely due to pandemic-related concerns, such as inflation, supply-chain issues, and a predicted recession.
However, despite lockdowns and work-from-home arrangements, some retail categories have expanded. For example, the global athleisure market is expected to top $662 billion by 2030.
