Only 60% of UK consumers are likely to make a spontaneous purchase from a brand they recognise and trust when grocery shopping online, according to new research.
After surveying 1,000 UK consumers on their shopping habits, the Digital Business Collective (DBC) is revealing that the change in consumer behaviour from shopping in-store to online has left FMCG brands vulnerable and is calling on retailers to invest in their online experiences.
The Digital Business Collective
The research indicates that when grocery shopping in a physical store, four out of five (80%2) UK consumers agree they are likely to make a spontaneous in-store purchase from a brand they recognise and trust.
This decreases to just three in five (60%) when grocery shopping online. This decrease could be due to the fact that just 16% of consumers cite brand as an important factor in influencing which product they buy when shopping online.
This change in consumer behaviour could present a challenge for many FMCG brands as they try and attract and retain consumer loyalty online. The Office for National Statistics’ revealed that online shopping in the UK has risen by 46% since February[1]. This is a trend that is set to continue as the DBC research uncovered that 23% of consumers will only partially go back to physical stores post-pandemic, while 17% plan to maintain the shopping habits they adopted during lockdown, and a further 17% plan to increase their use of online shopping.
Nicole Wilson, Consultant at the Digital Business Collective said: “COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown drastically changed UK consumers’ shopping behaviours, as thousands of people who habitually did in-store shopping for necessities like groceries, began to do it online. We wanted to understand the way in which this shift to online shopping changed the way these consumers interacted with FMCG brands.”
Wilson added: “The results of our survey highlight that FMCG brands face a battle for customer loyalty as online shopping increases, with brands losing control over how their products are sold to consumers. At the Digital Business Collective, we believe this presents an opportunity for FMCG brands. By investing in digital channels, FCMG brands can take back direct control of the way they engage with their customers and can help them to build long lasting customer loyalty.”
“With online shopping set to continue, brands need to ensure that they are able to convert all of their online customers — the loss of a good online customer is expensive. Therefore, it is essential brands don’t fall at the last hurdle and are able to provide a seamless online experience, so consumers remain loyal, and don’t switch to a competing business. DBC is here to help,” commented, Justin Broomes, Strategic Partnerships Manager, dotdigital.
Stephen Waller, Partner and MD of Commerce at Born group added: “The results of this survey highlight both a challenge and opportunity for FMCG brands. As online grocery shopping increases; brands are losing autonomy over the way in which their products are sold in traditional online marketplaces. With consumers set to increase their use of online grocery shopping, brands need to focus on creating their own immersive online channels that cut through the noise and attract digital consumers in order to survive.”
