As extreme weather events become more common across the United States, consumer shopping behaviors shift, creating new challenges for retailers.
A recent survey by RELEX Solutions highlights these evolving preferences and underscores the need for improved retailer preparedness to meet consumer demands during such events.
In-Store Shopping Prevails Despite Retailer Struggles
Amid hurricanes, tornadoes, heatwaves, and severe storms, over half of U.S. consumers (53%) continue to prefer in-store shopping when stocking up for extreme weather. However, only one-third (33%) express satisfaction with retailers’ ability to manage their stock and services during these times. This dissatisfaction points to a significant gap in the retail sector’s ability to meet consumer expectations, particularly during critical periods.
This preference for in-store shopping contrasts sharply with the increasing popularity of online shopping during the pandemic.
Laurence Brenig-Jones, VP of Product Strategy and Marketing at RELEX, remarked, “This signals an in-store renaissance after the e-commerce boom, which had been driving shopper preferences toward alternate methods like curbside and buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS).”
Lasting Impact of Pandemic on Shopping Behaviors
The pandemic has left a lasting imprint on consumer habits. According to the survey, 44% of respondents now keep a larger stock of essentials at home as a precaution against potential shortages.
Additionally, 34% of consumers shop more frequently to avoid running out of necessary items, and 26% have shifted towards purchasing more shelf-stable products. These behaviors indicate a growing trend of preparedness among consumers, which retailers must consider in their inventory management strategies.
Furthermore, while in-store shopping remains dominant, 15% of consumers prefer online shopping with home delivery to avoid crowds, and only 6% choose BOPIS to ensure product availability and save time.
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Regional Differences in Preparedness and Satisfaction
Consumer behaviors and satisfaction with retailer performance vary significantly across different regions of the U.S.
The Mid-Atlantic region, which includes states like New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, leads in preparedness, with 53% of consumers keeping larger stocks of essentials and 57% shopping more frequently to avoid shortages. This region also reports the highest satisfaction with retailers’ stock management during extreme weather, with 40% of consumers expressing strong satisfaction.
In contrast, the West North Central region, including states like Iowa and Minnesota, shows the lowest levels of preparedness, with only 30% of consumers keeping larger stocks of essentials. Similarly, the East South Central region, encompassing Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, reports the lowest satisfaction with retailer performance, with only 6% of consumers being very satisfied.
Retailers Must Adapt to Changing Consumer Expectations
The shift in consumer behavior presents both a challenge and an opportunity for retailers. To serve these more prepared consumers effectively, retailers must enhance their readiness and responsiveness, particularly during extreme weather events. This includes improving demand forecasting and optimizing inventory management to ensure that the right products are available at the right time.
By leveraging real-time weather data and predictive analytics, retailers can better align their stock with consumer expectations during critical periods. This approach not only increases customer satisfaction but also fosters greater loyalty.
“As consumers adopt more proactive, long-term preparation strategies in response to increasing extreme weather events, this shift could have significant implications for inventory management and the product mix retailers begin to offer,” added Brenig-Jones. “Meeting these needs more effectively will reduce the risk of stockouts and excess inventory.”
Retailers that succeed in aligning their strategies with consumer expectations will be better positioned to thrive in this evolving landscape influenced by extreme weather changes.