Consumer Shopping Habits in the UK

Consumer behaviour has always been a priority that marketers consider when trying to sell their goods and services. It pays to know your customer and their habits so that you can plan an effective and successful strategy. It is clear that the way forward is digital.

Consumer shopping habits differ around the world but with the rise of technology, one can say that the Brits, just like most countries, are shifting their priorities to digital and to shop from online businesses and stores.

UK shoppers are known to be loyal shoppers, in fact, almost 65% are known to be so. This means that the Brits prefer to shop from retailers that they are already familiar and have had an experience with. This statistic is slightly higher than other customers globally since brand loyalty is earned with difficulty in most countries.

The increase of online businesses and sales is also evident in the UK. Over the past year, statistics show that almost 9 in 10 people, making it 87%, had shopped online in 2020. This is one of the biggest rises in online shopper number in over 10 years.

Some huge UK retailers decided to close down some of their branches and expand their online business due to the constant rise of online customers. Retail businesses such as Gap, H&M, Zara and Superdry, to name a few, were some of the shops that decided to take this step forward during recent years. However, this is not only evident in retail. Giant food industries like Tesco and Thorntons are also making these decisions to focus on their online businesses and closing down some, or all, of their physical stores.

There is no doubt about it, online shopping is more convenient for customers as it is quick and easy to buy things online, especially with so many services, such as browser extensions to search for discounts, being available to make the process easier.

Online consumers also enjoy the fact that they can compare prices easier when shopping online. Although the method of shopping might have been switched to online, hunting for the best bargains is still ingrained in most shoppers.

On the other hand, online payment methods are forever improving to facilitate customers’ online processes. PayPal is an incredible example, and it is used across different industries such as shops, restaurants, various games including PayPal casino sites, and more. As time goes by, we are heading into a cashless society with the rise of contactless payments. They are faster and the security involved is a plus for many shoppers.

Shopping is becoming more and more technological with online and technology-dependent shopping methods on the rise and become a firm favourite with most consumers. As technology continues to improve and advance, it is more likely that things will turn towards digital even more, including shopping. Whether it’s contactless payment at a physical shop or buying online without a physical card, shopping is clearly one of the Brits favourite pastimes.