Adapting to New Consumer Shopping Habits

The impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the way that people live their lives cannot be understated. As restrictions are gradually being reduced in many countries and a return to pre-COVID-19 living is on the horizon, it is noticeable that some newly developed habits look to continue indefinitely. In particular, online shopping is going to continue as the new normal for the majority of consumers. As people are beginning to imagine a world post-COVID-19, businesses are having to plan to adapt to these new consumer shopping habits.

 

What is the New Normal for Consumer Habits?

 

As mentioned above, the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the retail industry cannot be understated. While some well-established platforms such as Amazon managed to grow during 2020, many small businesses were not able to survive. The companies that were able to continue operations during 2020 and 2021 were the businesses that were able to operate online.

Online retail sales increased by 32.4% in 2020 and were up by 39% in the first quarter of 2021. While this unprecedented rise in the growth of the online retail market might not continue at such a rapid rate, it is set to continue expanding more quickly than pre-COVID growth. This is because online shopping is well and truly here to stay, as studies show consumers report high intention to continue using online shopping after the pandemic.

In order for businesses to survive, remain competitive, and grow in the post-pandemic era it is vital that they are able to adapt to the new normal for consumer preferences.

 

How Businesses Can Adapt?

 

The points listed below outline some of the most effective methods businesses should take to keep up with new consumer preferences:

 

Offer High-Quality Delivery Services

 

Companies such as Amazon have changed the game when it comes to delivery options, meaning that consumers have come to expect high-quality, super-fast delivery options. To gain any competitive advantage businesses need to offer high-quality delivery services. This means offering a variety of delivery options and prices.

It is not practical for the majority of small businesses to host a large number of delivery workers on-site waiting for periods of high demand. Having access to freelance delivery staff will help businesses to cater to the changing demands of their customers. Sites such as https://www.shiply.com/us/load-board can be used to find freelance load board drivers so you can ensure that you are always able to meet consumer demands.

 

Increase Your Digital Marketing Efforts

 

Online sales increased at a compound annual growth rate of 14% in the four years leading up to 2019; in the first two weeks of March 2020, it grew by 25%. To be able to utilize this increase in potential customers, businesses should work on digital marketing strategies both on- and off-site. Using practices such as social media marketing and search engine optimization will increase brand awareness and push traffic to your website. You should then consolidate these efforts by optimizing your website for user experience. Create a conversion funnel that increases the speed at which customers move through your site to make a purchase.