We’ve all been socially distancing for weeks and weeks now, and it’s starting to feel like the new normal. While we ride out the coronavirus pandemic from the safety of our homes, we are finding a new way to shop.
We’ve made the move to remote working or minimal staff, learning from home, virtual happy hours with our family and friends, digital fitness apps, and online shopping to help us stay sane.
Habits tend to become intact between 2 and 3 months so this will be like a new habit for most of us. One way or another, a lot of us will leave this crisis with new ways of doing things. Especially when it comes to the way we shop.
Retailers are having to adapt, and fast. Shoppers want to feel safe and retailers are having to respond to this. With many of them been forced to close and change the way, they provide their products.
Let’s have a look at some of the ways shopping has changed.
Looking and Not Touching
There is no doubt that Covid-19 is changing the way that we touch things. Studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus can last up to three days on plastic and stainless steel, and then up to 24 hours on cardboard. However, it is unknown how long it can stay on materials such as clothing.
As some stores reopen like garden centres, corner shops, and DIY stores, many people are wary of picking up items that may have come into contact with others. On top of this, it’s a concern to push shopping trollies, pick up baskets, and push the buttons on a card machine.
Everything Online
Online shopping isn’t something that is new by any means, however, it’s the way that many people are now having to shop for things such as clothing, essentials, and furniture. This pandemic has made online shopping more popular than ever, and with many delivery services putting steps into place for contactless deliveries it has been providing consumers with the reassurance that they’re are been listened to.
Retailers have got creative and have learnt new ways to showcase their inventories on the internet, using platforms like Instagram and live videos to show how a piece of clothing will fit, or how a pushchair gets put together. Many retailers who are now predominantly online for the time been have released early sales and vouchers for their customers to use through this difficult time. As a shopper, you should definitely take advantage of things like a Peacocks promo code or discount off of furniture.
Social Distancing
Although it has taken some time to get used to, social distancing is now very normal. It’s not likely to go away anytime soon either. Very similar to not touching things when shopping, protecting your personal space has become a necessity. Most shops that have been allowed to open have clearly marked their floors with directional arrows and marks to indicated the required 2 meters apart. This has been a very proactive and welcoming approach from shoppers who are able to clearly see where they are supposed to be in order to be safer. Capacities have also been limited, and although it has led to longer waits it is something that has made shoppers feel more at ease during this concerning time.
Shopping Locally
Because of the pandemic, local shopping has had a much greater interest than usual. There has been many local greengrocers, butchers, coffee shops, etc. that have adapted their business to be able to support the local community. These deserve massive praise for the efforts they put in when there was a shortage in the main supermarkets.
Is there anything you have been doing to keep yourself safe when shopping? What’s changed for you? Please share them in the comments below.
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