Changes in Consumer Shopping Trends Impacting All Industries Across Europe

No matter how you slice it, the general public has very different shopping habits than they had a year or so ago. Holiday sales are no longer the time to solely splurge on new electronics. Instead, consumers are likely to seek out sales on generators, sewing machines, and dry goods.

Across all industries, these shifting consumer trends have been noticed by companies. Products once exclusively marketed B2B are now going into the B2C sector. Delivery companies and personal shopping services have grown tremendously. If your company wants to see what consumers are thinking and doing now, read below.

Online Shopping Trends

Placing an order online and having whatever you purchased delivered to your home is no newer a concept than smartphones, or home delivery services. The fact of the matter is that consumers have been placing online orders for a very long time. When everyone was stuck at home at the height of the pandemic, online delivery options became a necessity rather than a plus. Simply put, retailers and companies could not keep up with demand, and customer satisfaction overall suffered. Then, businesses were able to catch up on back orders, as they worked closely with various delivery and postal systems to deal with the increase in orders.

Increased Consumer Confidence in Responsible Retailers

Little by little, consumers and businesses took measures to protect themselves and others. First, wearing a mask was suggested, along with disposable gloves. Hand sanitising stations were set up in the entryways of retail stores, helping to further prevent the spread of coronavirus. This range of sanitising stations are easy to clean and sanitise, and all products ship quickly. With these products, business owners servicing consumers in-person are able to set the tone at the front door.

Panic Buying and Stockpiling

For a period of time, it was almost impossible to find a single bottle of hand sanitiser. Various food items were also in short supply, as households across Europe sought to stockpile groceries in advance of lockdowns and other restrictions. Shoppers who normally found that they could buy what they wanted on an at-need basis swiftly found that their choices were severely limited. Food prep and stockpilers have always belonged to their own niches, sometimes crossing over into the world of couponers and disaster preparedness. Now, deep freezers, storage shelves, canning equipment, and even seeds are flying off shelves. This new category of shoppers was created out of panic buying, and developed into their own sub-niche.

Whether you have a company that offers in-person shopping options or have a business that uses an entirely web-based model, the newest data on consumer shopping trends is important for you to know. Even shoppers who make impulse purchases are a little more prudent about competitor pricing, shipping times, and customer support. They will spend more time reading each company's terms and conditions in an effort to make the right choice from the get-go. Consumer spending is still a bit low, but the majority of industries should reach projected profit margins. That is, so long as they respond to changing consumer shopping trends.

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