63% of shoppers prefer shopping locally, according to poll

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1st June 2021 15:51 - Retail

63% of shoppers prefer shopping locally: While it's true that Amazon sales have boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic, a survey has found that 63% of Brits actually prefer shopping in their local area. 

The survey by Uberall polled 1,000 UK representative shoppers, finding that 63% 'strongly favour' shopping locally, with 72% of shoppers saying 'price' is the most important element. This was followed by the 'proximity of the business to consumer' when shopping locally (42%) and 'ratings or reviews' (36%). The survey also found that when considering shopping ‘locally’, the consumers polled included both independent retailers, as well as local branches of supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s

Shopping post Covid

Looking at shopping after Covid, a third of shoppers (34%) said they preferred to shop at stores, with just 14% saying they would only do their shopping online.

Consumers are also mixing it up when it comes to online and store purchases, with one in five (20%) saying they preferred this way of shopping. One in six (16%) said they prefer to actually see a product before they commit to buying it online.

However, the survey also found that despite liking the ease of buying items online, many consumers also want little fuss when it comes to returning products, with 79% saying they like to be able to return their online purchase to a local store. Two-thirds of shoppers said that they are more likely to buy an online product if they can easily return it to a store.

Amazon.co.uk

When shoppers were asked for their reasons for shopping at global giant, Amazon.co.uk for everyday goods, the large selection of items available and fast/free shipping were top reasons cited, ranking ahead of lower prices. Half of all the shoppers polled selected these three drivers as reasons to shop with Amazon. They also cited trustworthiness (39%) and recommendations in the form of product reviews (38%).

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