3 minute read
Shopping for the Future
CONTRIBUTED BY MONERIS
There’s no doubt the pandemic has changed our way of life. The way we shop, spend money, and interact with each other has drastically changed, but will these trends continue after the pandemic has ended? All signs point to yes, as a global survey from Ernst & Young found that 42 per cent of consumers believe the way they shop will fundamentally change due to COVID-19.
Here are five pandemic shopping habits that we think are here to stay after we’ve put COVID-19 behind us. Taking advantage of these insights will help you grow your franchise system today and tomorrow.
1. Shopping online
Not surprisingly, many consumers are flocking to the internet to do all of their shopping online, with consumer spending up 30.1 per cent from 2019. This trend was already starting to develop before the pandemic, with marketplace websites making it easy to purchase everything you need in one place.
The need for socially distanced shopping has accelerated this trend, and we don’t see it slowing down anytime soon. Online shopping for over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, groceries, household supplies, and personal-care products has grown by 35 per cent. Even discretionary categories such as skincare and makeup, apparel, jewelry, and accessories show expected growth of more than 15 per cent.
2. Shopping small and local
The pandemic has brought small communities together in a way that nobody saw coming, and the idea of “we’re all in this together” has permeated through our neighbourhoods. This has resulted in 76 per cent of shoppers saying they’re more determined to shop locally than ever before. In fact, 34 per cent of consumers indicate that they would pay more for local products.
The shop local trend will stick around beyond the pandemic as consumers seek out more unique and curated options.
3. Curbside pickup
Another trend that was accelerated by the pandemic is the availability of curbside pickup. By allowing customers to “click-andcollect,” small franchise owners can save on shipping costs, leverage in-store inventory, and increase overall sales by an average of 23 per cent. Providing curbside pickup also makes shopping easier by allowing customers to safely browse products whenever and wherever they want. Offering this sort of flexibility ensures your franchise doesn’t get left behind in a world where omnichannel retail is rapidly growing.
4. Contactless payment processing
Many Canadians prefer contactless payment options during the pandemic, with 68 per cent claiming they plan on paying this way moving forward, which suggests a permanent shift in Canadian mindset and behaviours.
Coinciding with this shift, major credit card companies raised their tap payment limits from $100 to $250 in April. A recent study we conducted shows Canadians have gotten used to the change as roughly 62 per cent are using less cash, and 42 per cent say they avoid shopping where contactless payment options aren’t available.
Being able to pay with your phone’s mobile wallet – or even your watch – also means never having to worry about forgetting your physical wallet at home. With cash payments in decline and contactless payment technology advancing the way it is, you can expect this trend to continue.
5. Hygiene habits
With a heightened focus on germs and sanitization, many businesses are implementing more thorough health and hygiene practices around their locations. Looking back, it’s hard to imagine that most businesses rarely sanitized their POS devices before the pandemic.
Moving forward, you can expect a greater level of focus on what businesses are doing to keep their locations clean and safe. Whenever the pandemic ends, you better believe we’ll all be more conscious of our personal space, our hand-washing tendencies, and what we feel comfortable touching (door handles, handrails, countertops, etc.)
They say necessity is the mother of invention, and it’s never been truer than now. By creating workarounds and increasing customer convenience, we’ve created a variety of new trends that will make life easier for consumers and franchise owners everywhere. From easier ways to shop, to increasing support for local businesses, we think these trends are here to stay.
ABOUT MONERIS:
With a full suite of business management and payment processing solutions, Moneris offers everything you need to manage your business. Whether you run a pop-up shop, online store, bricks-and-mortar location, or offer curb-side pickup, we have a solution that fits your needs. For more information, please visit www.moneris.com and follow @ moneris on social media.
