COVER STORY
Shopping for the Future Five pandemic shopping habits that are here to stay (plus tips for franchisees to develop their business!) CONTRIBUTED BY MONERIS
T
here’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 operate your franchise 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
24 Canadian Franchise Association
discretionary categories such as skincare and makeup, apparel, jewelry, and accessories show expected growth of more than 15 per cent. Key Tip: Make sure you build and maintain a website with the same passion you would with a brick-and-mortar location. It’s an extension of your franchise, after all! 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. Key Tip: If you’re a small, independent franchise owner, make sure your clientele knows it. Host community events/sales and try your best to build relationships with your customers. Make sure your location is also easy to find by displaying eye-catching signage and adding your franchise to local shopping directories.
www.cfa.ca | www.FranchiseCanada.Online
