How Have Local COVID Surges Impacted Shopping Behavior?

While consumer behavior surely has evolved due to the pandemic, Prodege was interested to learn more about the consumer mindset 18 months into this “new normal”.  We reached out to consumers for a clear picture of their shopping experiences over the summer when new variants & surges began emerging.

When the pandemic first started, consumers nationwide started stocking up. Were these shopping behaviors replicated as the latest surge began over the summer? Three-in-ten (30%) of shoppers recently admitted to stocking up on essentials such as food and cleaning supplies.

Following supply chain issues across the nation, a quarter of shoppers reported seeing more empty shelves in popular stores such as Walmart, Target, and Kroger in August compared to previous months! 

In addition to noticing empty shelves, consumers are also paying attention to the prices of their groceries. Nearly half indicate they are on the lookout for ways to save money.

At the same time, fewer shoppers reported discovering new products, buying more than expected, or finding deals compared to June when the COVID spread was slower. They tend to stick to their shopping lists with the goal of getting out of the store as quickly as possible!

But when it comes to our consumers’ shopping plans in the next few months, most are planning on increasing their in-store shopping! 

If you want to make sure you are moving products off of shelves, learn how you can drive sales volume with our flexible marketing solutions!