The latest report from Mintel has revealed a dramatic change in online shopping habits over the Covid-19 lockdown period – habits that the consumer analyst believes could prove lasting.
According to the Mintel findings, in the very early days of the spread of the coronavirus in the UK, before social distancing measures were announced, 7% of Brits increased their total amount of online shopping – both food and non-food.
However, since the lockdown was introduced, online shopping, especially in the grocery sector, has received a dramatic boost, with the number of consumers who say they have increased their online shopping rising to 36%.
For many gift retailers with transactional websites, online sales are providing a lifeline during the lockdown period. Earlier this year, Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net announced the findings of the latest PG&H Retail Barometer, which revealed that almost two thirds of respondents confirmed that they had a website as well as a bricks and mortar store, with just over half operating a transactional website.
Top: Online shopping has seen a dramatic online boost.
