Over the past few months, we’ve seen retailers all over the UK struggling to stay afloat thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. In March, shopping centres and high street stores were told to temporarily close their businesses unless they were selling essential goods. This happened again at the end of October, causing many businesses to file for bankruptcy.
Not only has the pandemic had a negative impact on businesses in the UK, but it’s also had an impact on our lives. Thousands of people have been made redundant and others are having to shield to protect themselves against this deadly bug. All of these things have affected the way in which people are doing their Christmas shopping this year. Keep reading below to find out how shopping behaviours have changed this year as a result of lockdown.
The majority of people in the UK usually start their Christmas shopping on Black Friday, but this isn’t the case this year. In fact, research has shown that most people started their Christmas shopping at the start of October.
One of the main reasons for this is because people are worried that the UK will still be in lockdown in December. This means that they will be unable to purchase the gifts or presents they want. Not only that, but many people are also shopping early to try and avoid crowds of people. Shopping when the stores are quieter allows people to more easily socially distance from others. This reduces their chances of coming into contact with the virus.
Another reason why people in the UK have started their Christmas shopping early is because they want to spread out the cost of their Christmas shopping. Lots of people are struggling to find the funds this year.
Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, many consumers are choosing to stay at home this year and buy their presents online. In fact, research has shown that almost 50% of UK shoppers plan on doing their shopping online, and over 25% are unwilling to shop in a high street store until a vaccine is found.
The good news for consumers is that you can buy almost anything you want online. From the hot water bottle for your great grandma to the gift every adult appreciates, a Costa Gift Card, there’s something for everyone.
Research has suggested that almost 70% of UK consumers plan on spending less money on Christmas presents this year. Many people are concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect it’s having on the economy. Not only that, but thousands of workers in the UK have found themselves being made redundant and aren’t willing to get into debt to pay for expensive Christmas presents.
When we think about Christmas shopping, we often think about the big crowds of people, the large amount of money spent on gifts and the huge profits for businesses. Many businesses rely on this period as this is their busiest time of year. But Christmas shopping is likely to be completely different this year, thanks to the changes in economic situations and customer preferences as well as the pandemic.