Local shopping trend looks set to continue as Brits support small businesses

Claire Small
Authored by Claire Small
Posted Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - 11:12am

Small local businesses look set to thrive after lockdown as shopping habits have shifted fundamentally across the UK due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to a survey by Barclaycard, 90% of people who started shopped locally intend to continue shopping at local businesses after the pandemic is over.

Travel and lockdown restrictions have led to fundamental changes in the way we shop over the last year. Over 60% of consumers in the UK have opted to support their local economy and shop locally in the past 12 months.

This has led to an increase in spending at speciality food stores such as bakeries, butchers, greengrocers, and delis of 63% year-on-year. Speciality food stores also benefited from stay-at-home orders as people took to their kitchens to cook more than they would in normal times.

Small businesses have benefited from the move to working from home and restrictions on getting out and about. Many people reported combining a trip out for essentials with their daily exercise in their local community.

In addition, as the economic fallout from the pandemic was felt by businesses up and down the country, consumers hoped to support small businesses that benefit their communities and keep hardworking entrepreneurs from shutting up shop.

Shoppers have overwhelmingly taken to online shopping in the last year too, according to the report. A trend that sees no sign of abating anytime soon.

On average, the Barclaycard survey found, shoppers were receiving an extra two at-home deliveries a month than before the pandemic.

Trends for clothing and meal-kit deliveries look set to increase in the months and years to come as consumers have become reliant on delivery services. This in turn has boosted recruitment for delivery drivers. Offering a lifeline for people made unemployed or left without support during the last year.

Reasons that people have enjoyed shopping local vary. As our normal social circles were put on hold or isolated from each other, the sense of community was a big draw for many shoppers. Being served by a friendly and familiar face ranked highly, as did the sense of community bonds being built.

Other shoppers hoped they were supporting their local economy and helping to create jobs. Awareness about the struggles independent retailers faced during the first lockdown spurred shoppers on to spend with independent businesses, both online and in their local areas.

As the UK trundles along its roadmap out of lockdown, small and independent business owners are hoping to see these trends continue. Although recovery from the pandemic might be long, if shoppers create a legacy of shopping locally it will help to get us back on our feet.

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