In-Store Preference Rises, Online Stays Prominent

As COVID-19 deaths sadly pass one million within the US, consumers are apt to return to shopping in-store as 63% of consumers are willing to shop in-store without fear of exposure to COVID-19, according to a new survey from Radial. That still doesn’t mean online shopping has faded, 54% of consumers are shopping more online than in 2020, with nearly a third of those respondents shopping online a few times a week. When shopping online, shipping is pivotal to success as half of respondents consider three to four days a reasonable timeframe to expect an online order. Almost 60% of consumers indicate they will seek products from other brands or retailers to receive them faster, 23% would forego free shipping and pay for next-day shipping to receive products faster. (View source)

Consumer Preferences for Everyday Items

Amazon’s presence has become great, but not great enough to pass the low-price giant of Walmart. 65% of consumers visit Walmart to make everyday purchases, followed by Amazon (43%), Dollar Tree (34%), Dollar General (31%), and Target (30%). When shopping in-store, consumers narrowly prefer to use a self-checkout (51%) rather than visit a cashier (49%), this number is higher among younger generations with 62% of millennials and 60% of GenZ preferring self-checkout. The leading average spend for each trip was $100-$200 per trip at 27%. (View source)

Music and Small Business

A new Harris Poll x Spotify study showcases just how great of an impact music can within small business. With 93% of Americans indicating they shop at small businesses, 95% indicate they want to hear music while shopping, and 67% of these respondents believe local small businesses that play music incentivize them to shop. Additionally, 72% feel more connected to a local small business when they play music that makes them feel nostalgic, 70% find themselves more likely to shop at one that plays music they enjoy, and 63% enjoy when these businesses help them discover new music they haven’t heard before. For new music discovery, 60% would like the ability to download a curated playlist from a small business, the same percentage indicates they would like to do so via a QR code. As for what music would like to be heard, 48% want to hear oldies, followed by pop (44%), rock (43%), and country (43%). Among all categories, persons 18-54 years of age were much more perceptive towards music being played in small businesses when compared to those 55+, one example being how inclined they are to return to the small business based on what music they play (70% vs. 51%). (View source)

Personalization Preferences

When it comes to personalization, businesses have a range of tactics they can implement. According to a new Sailthru study, there are three prevalent ways that brands are implementing personalization: predictive personalization (50%), email send-time optimization (47%), and buyer journey-based personalization (44%). Other popular techniques include channel-based personalization, personalized online landing pages, device-based personalization, and click-based personalization. While 71% of brands believe they are exceling at implementing marketing personalization, only 34% of consumers think the same. (View source)

As part of Target’s new strategy moving forward, including a revamp to their c-suite responsibilities, stores around the US will see a new technology – robot nail painting. Firstly coming to three stores, two within California and one in Minnesota, the robot dubbed “Mini-Cure”.  (View source)

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