Press Releases

Consumers vow to splash out on food and drink this Chirstmas

Published: 26th October 2020
Author: Rumpus PR

 

Steadfast British consumers are planning to celebrate Christmas in style this year in spite of the coronavirus pandemic, with over a third planning to spend more money on food and drink, according to research.

A survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted by competitor price and product monitoring service, Skuuudle, which looked at autumn/winter spending versus 2019, found that 38% of Brits are looking to splash out, with clothing and accessories (18%) and technology (17%) coming second and third in the list of priorities.*

With online shopping more vital than ever as the nation enters a second lockdown, the research has also revealed consumer habits when spending on the web. Almost half of those surveyed (41%) said that they are now comparing prices more often (versus 2019) online for a single product before buying, with 35% admitting that price comparison would be very important when Christmas shopping in 2020.(Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, the average UK consumer spent 24 minutes comparing prices before purchasing.)

Shoppers were also quizzed about the types of offers and incentives that would entice them to buy from a particular brand or business; surprisingly, 60% said that free delivery was the most attractive option, above discounts (59%), voucher codes (33%) and seasonal sales (28%).

While consumers nationwide plan to stock up on food and drink, Wales led the charge, with 48% anticipating spending more, followed by 42% of respondents in London and Northern Ireland. Londoners place more value on clothing and accessories than any other area of the country, with 25% planning to spend more in this category.

Before the pandemic, shoppers in East Anglia were the most cautious when it came to deciding where to spend their hard earned cash, with 67% saying they spent up to 30 minutes comparing prices online for a single item, followed by 65% of Scottish consumers.

Since COVID-19 hit in early 2020 however, people in the North East have been the most eager to find the best price, with 48% admitting that they are spending a lot more time comparing costs in an effort to get the best deal.

“There’s no question that the shift towards online spending is here to stay, especially with the arrival of a second lockdown, and financial pressures making consumers more price-sensitive than ever before,” says James Hilton, CEO at Skuuudle.

“With plenty of options available to order shopping to your door, and the ability to compare like-for-like before committing to buy, people are savvier than ever when it comes to deciding how and where they’re going to spend their money.

“To be fit for the future, a strong online presence, competitive prices and added extras that make shoppers feel valued will go a long way to helping brands attract and keep customers in the long-term.”

*Survey of 2,000 UK adults (nationally representative) conducted by One Poll (October 2020) – commissioned by Skuuudle
 

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