How Coronavirus is Affecting Online Shopping
Has COVID-19 really affected the way people utilize online shopping in extreme ways?
So why go into a store when you can have someone else shop everything on the list for you?
When the world went on lockdown, it was hard to go out and even trickier to go out and shop for groceries and other essential items. Though living in the twenty-first century, we have adapted. Companies have evolved and created contactless delivery options as well as home delivery options. Companies like Walmart and Target offer online shopping and contactless delivery services. We have also seen personal shopping services such as InstaCart and Shipt save a lot of people from having to leave their homes and shop in physical stores. So why go into a store when you can have someone else shop everything on the list for you? Other services such as Door Dash and Uber Eats have become even more popular. You can order from any restaurant or fast-food chain their services offer.
According to a survey performed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, “Across the countries, people with tertiary education and female consumers were the most likely to have increased their online purchases.” They surveyed nine different countries to gather data around how online shopping habits had been affected by the covid lockdown. The most noticeable decline in purchasing affected for travel and fashion. Since the whole entire world was under a complete lockdown, there was not an immediate need for travel or for a new wardrobe.
Out of the nine countries that were surveyed, China had the greatest increase in online shopping. The greatest product increase was seen with electronic goods. A close second came from tools, gardening, and do-it-yourself products. The use of home delivery when compared to shopping in stores was a whopping 85% which further proves the point, why go shopping for yourself when someone else can cross the items off the list for you?
HOW CAN WE ANALYZE THESE ONLINE SHOPPING AFFECTS?
Consumer habits also changed; more people are choosing to stay local instead of traveling. The emphasis to purchase essential goods was heightened, so much that panic buying was in place. In the early stages of quarantine, there was a toilet paper drought. People were afraid of running out of supplies so much that shelves were cleared in physical stores and online. The same goes for hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, and other essential cleaning products.
According to BigCommerce.com, their study of COVID-19’s impact on online shopping can even be broken down by generations. Millennials and Gen Z are far more concerned about the coronavirus and the way it is impacting our economy versus Gen X and Boomers. Gen Z and Millennials are showing more frugality when it comes to online shopping since this pandemic has begun.
BigCommerce.com has taken note that although e-commerce sales have not drastically changed across the entire system, certain industries have seen spikes in sales. Grocery e-commerce saw a spike when more companies were able to develop online shopping and home delivery options. Subscription services also saw an increase. Since more people were staying home, subscription services provided them with a broad source of entertainment. Around five new streaming services were released in 2020. They also took note of purchasing categories such as “proactive health-minded buying” and “reactive health management.” Proactive health-minded buying means that more people are gearing their purchases towards preventative health products and reactive health management means that consumers are purchasing protective gear.
SOURCES
https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/dtlstictinf2020d1_en.pdf
https://unctad.org/news/covid-19-has-changed-online-shopping-forever-survey-shows
https://www.bigcommerce.com/blog/covid-19-ecommerce/#understanding-panic-buying-and-coronavirus