Why Consumer Shopping Is Surging This Year

The trends of consumer shopping continue to change year on year but with recent events its become harder to predict. However with recent reports suggesting some very interesting notions consumer shopping is on the rise once again. From massive retailers creating amazing shopping experiences to online giants reaping it in we will dig deep into the data. In fact e-commerce grew an astonishing 13.7% in 2021 to a jaw dropping $908 billion market.¹ But babyboomers still love to go in store and many tangible products are best tested in person so Trend Seeker has the information for you.

shopping trends

Social Media Continues To Migrate For Selling

Even the newcomer TikTok has been focusing on creating an in app shopping experience for its users.² ByteDance LTD continues to partner with streetwear brands to help create a better shopping experience for its growing users. Now that the app has been downloaded over 2 billion times it’s time to start cashing in on that user base. Other social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat have been working on a way to deliver a shopping experience for its users for years. But recent updates have really began to drive this application home and more people are using this for shopping than ever before.

Mobile Shopping Vs Online Shopping

Now the two are very different simply put the laptop or desktop shopping experience is the one most people are used too. It was much easier to see what you wanted to purchase and consumers felt more safer entering their credit card details over the computer. However as mobile devices continue to replace laptops this shift has changed. In fact mobile shopping is a truly trillion dollar market and its developing at lightning speeds.³ So the better question is how do you take advantage of this market? Well many retailers have began to invest in Augmented Reality which offers potential customers a way to view what an item would look like in their home before they make a purchase. IKEA Place is one of the first household name applications that offers this technology and it’s only getting better.

shopping trends

What About Traditional Stores?

As we all know traditional stores have really taken a beating in recent years. With the pandemic shifting most consumers to shop online for their needs there was really no need to go into stores anymore. Even though many states have begun to lift lockdown restrictions people are still shopping from home at unprecedented numbers. So what does this mean for your favourite brands?

Delayed Shipping Is A Big Problem

The biggest complaint that many shoppers have is the time it takes to get their items. With Jeff Bezos promising one day shipping for Amazon Prime members worldwide this has put a lot of pressure on other retailers. In fact many businesses have been forced to shut down due to the pandemic and high demand for home delivery. So if you’re a retailer how do you keep up with these demands? Well some have turned to third party delivery services like DoorDash, Instacart and many others. But the truth is that these services come at a cost and many retailers are struggling to make a profit. So what’s the solution?

In-Store Pick Up Could Be The Answer

One solution that has been gaining a lot of traction is in-store pick up. This allows customers to shop online and then pick up their items at a later time from the store. This cuts out the need for home delivery and it’s much faster than waiting for your items to be shipped. In fact many retailers are offering this service for free in order to compete with the likes of Amazon. But the question is will this be enough to save traditional stores? Only time will tell.

shopping trends

Rising Shipping Costs Also A Problem

With inflation on the rise and leaking into shipping costs the price to get a product delivered is on the rise.⁴ This is only putting more pressure on retailers as they are struggling to keep up with the demand for home delivery. Many consumers are starting to feel the pinch as well and are beginning to rethink their shopping habits. So what does this mean for retailers? Well many are being forced to raise prices in order to offset the rising costs. But the truth is that this could price many consumers out of the market and force them to find other ways to get their items.

The Future Of Shopping

As we can see the future of shopping is uncertain. With the pandemic still raging on and no end in sight many retailers are struggling to keep up with the demand for home delivery. But as costs continue to rise and shipping times get longer many consumers are starting to rethink their shopping habits. So what does the future hold? Only time will tell.

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