5 Post-Pandemic Buying Habits That Are Here To Stay

There’s no doubt the current pandemic we’re all facing has changed our way of life – and we’re not just talking about having to wear masks at the grocery store.  

The way we shop, spend money, and interact with each other has drastically changed in a matter of months. But will we see some of these trends continue after the pandemic has ended? All signs point to yes, as a global survey from Ernst & Young found that 42% of consumers believe the way they shop will fundamentally change due to COVID-19.

Below are five pandemic-driven buying 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 business today – and moving forward.

Increase in Online Shopping

Not surprisingly, many consumers are flocking to the internet to do all of their shopping online, with consumer spending up 30.1% from 2019. This trend was already starting to develop before the pandemic with websites like Amazon, making it easy to purchase everything you need in one place.  

The same is true in the restaurant sector. The survey found 21% of consumers are now ordering online from restaurants, up from 13% in mid-April. 

The need for socially-distanced shopping has accelerated this digital-first phenomenon, and we don’t see it slowing down anytime soon. Online shopping for over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, groceries, household supplies, and personal-care product purchasing has grown by 35%. Even discretionary categories such as skincare and makeup, apparel, jewelry and accessories show expected customer growth of more than 15 percent.

Key Tip: Ensuring your product or service is available for purchase online isn’t just important these days – it’s essential.

If you opened your online store as a temporary measure to stay afloat, make it a permanent part of your offering. An end-to-end ecommerce solution will ensure that you keep up with the increased demand for online shopping while simplifying how you do business. Moneris Online helps keep your business running ensuring you have everything you need to easily build your website, accept online payments, and manage your online store. 

Shopping Local & Supporting Small Business

The pandemic has brought small communities together in a way that nobody saw coming. The idea of “we’re all in this together” has permeated through our neighbourhoods and has resulted in 76% of shoppers more determined to shop locally than ever before. In fact, 34% 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 distinctive, unique, and locally sourced options.  

Key Tip: If you’re a small independent business owner, make sure your clientele knows it. Host community events/sales and try your best to build relationships with your customers. Word-of-mouth marketing is key here. You should also make sure your store is easy to find by displaying eye-catching signage and adding your business to local shopping directories. 

If you’re a small local restaurant, make sure you’re offering online ordering and delivery to let your customers support you from afar. Partnering with UEAT will provide you with a personalized and frictionless online ordering system to boost sales and secure recurring customers. On top of that, UEAT boasts lower fees than popular delivery apps like Uber Eats and Skip the dishes.

Curbside Pickup

Another trend that was accelerated by the pandemic is the availability of curbside pickup. By allowing customers to “click-and-collect”, small business owners can save on shipping costs, leverage in-store inventory, and increase overall sales by, on average, 23%. Providing curbside pickup options also makes shopping easier by allowing customers to safely browse products whenever and wherever they want. Offering this sort of flexibility ensures your business doesn’t get left behind in a world where omnichannel retail is rapidly growing. 

Key Tip: If you already have a local customer base, or want to attract more local customers, consider offering curbside pickup as an option – especially if you’re a restaurant.

To ensure the experience is as smooth as possible, try to provide onsite signage and send personalized communications like confirmation emails or text messages to let your customer know their order is ready. 

Contactless Payment Processing

Many Canadians prefer contactless payment options during the current pandemic, with 68% claiming they plan on paying this way moving forward, which suggests a permanent shift in Canadian mindset and behaviours.

Coinciding with this shift, major credit card companies raised their tap payment limits from $100 to $250 in April. A recent study we conducted shows Canadians have gotten used to the change - roughly 62% are using less cash, and 42% say they avoid shopping where contactless payment options aren’t available.

Besides being the safest way to pay, it’s also the fastest and most convenient. Being able to pay with your phone’s mobile wallet – or even your watch – means never having to worry about forgetting your cash or physical wallet at home. With cash payments in decline and contactless payment technology advancing the way it is, you can expect this trend to continue.

Key Tip: Make sure you offer contactless payment options and keep your customers updated about all the different ways they can pay. There are a few key features to look for in a good contactless payment processor, all of which are all available with Moneris Go, the newest addition to our terminal lineup.

Also, to make it clear you accept mobile wallet payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay etc.), display the proper signage at your checkout counter.

Health and Hygiene Habits

With a heightened focus on germs and sanitization, many businesses are implementing more thorough health and hygiene practices around their shops. Looking back, it’s almost shocking to think most stores rarely sanitized their POS devices before the pandemic.

Moving forward, you can expect a greater level of detail when it comes to keeping retail stores clean and sanitary. Whenever the pandemic ends, you better believe we’ll all be more conscious of our personal space, our hand washing tendencies, and what we feel comfortable touching (door handles, handrails, counter-tops, etc.)

Key Tip: Provide your customers with peace-of-mind by keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer by the front door or at the checkout counter. Knowing that everyone who enters the store has been using sanitizer will make your customers feel more comfortable as they browse.

It’s vitally important to sanitize your POS terminal to keep both your customers and employees safe. You can also browse our wide collection of personal protective equipment to provide more comfort to your customers.

Moneris is here to help

They say necessity is the mother of invention, and it’s never been truer than now. By devising workarounds and increasing customer convenience, we’ve created a variety of new trends that will make life easier for consumers and business owners everywhere. From easier ways to shop to increasing support for local businesses, some trends caused by the pandemic are here to stay – and for the better.

Let our experts help you meet the needs of the modern consumer by clicking here to set up a quick phone call. We’ll get you in touch with a customer service representative and have you moving in the right direction.

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The information in this article is provided solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be legal, business or other professional advice or an endorsement of any of the websites or services listed.