Nothing like a little bit of retail therapy to pick you up when you're feeling down. But perhaps you don't feel very safe in public spaces these days, or simply want to do your part to help flatten the curve. What's the alternative? Shopping online, of course.
Why Risk Going Outside When You Can Shop on Social Media?
According to the results of a survey conducted by software company Bazaarvoice (via Adweek), consumers are using social media to shop from brands much more than they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There's a lot of data to break down, but thankfully the company has provided an infographic to lessen the feeling of information overload.
Before much of the world locked down in March 2020, most shoppers (65 percent) preferred to browse items in-store shopping, while 72 percent of shoppers made purchases directly through brands’ websites.
But over the past year, we've seen that change, as people have been encouraged to only leave their homes for essentials.
In-store shopping saw a 58 percent decrease among those polled—now only approximately 1 in 4 shoppers still prefers to do their shopping at a physical store. Of course, this played into the increase of consumers (77 percent) sopping directly from brands’ websites to get their fix.
What's more, social media platforms have become hubs for shopaholics as well.
Instagram in particular has seen some incredible growth in this regard. Before the pandemic, only 18 percent of shoppers bought things on the photo-sharing app, but that number has since shot up to 54 percent.
Other social apps used for shopping include Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Twitter.
"Brands and retailers that prioritize the ease of shopping for their social followers are sure to see increased return on investment," says Bazaarvoice CEO Keith Nealon. "Nowadays, social media is for shopping just as much as it is for socializing."
For Everyone's Safety, Shop Online Instead of In-Store
In some areas around the world, it is true that the effects of the pandemic have lessened. However, that shouldn't be a green light to head outside all willy-nilly like many of us did before this all happened.
When you read the news and discover that there are less COVID-19 cases in your area than yesterday, take that as a sign to continue the effort to stop the spread. If you can help it, opt to shop online or instead of in-store. There are some businesses that offer curbside pickup too, should that work better for you.