Shoppers Shift Shopping Patterns To Save Money

The American ShopperScape 2008 report finds that shoppers are seeking ways to save money, including visiting one-stop shopping venues and stores closer to home more frequently. Discount retailers and store brands are among those benefiting the most from recent changes in shopping behaviors.

One quarter of shoppers are visiting retailers other than where they usually shop in order to offset higher gas prices. They shop more frequently at discount and value stores versus upscale and specialty retailers. To save on gas, consumers are visiting “power centers” more often than regional and strip malls.

Shopping online is on the rise because it can help save both time and money. Women, middle-aged, and higher-income shoppers are more likely to utilize the internet to shop than others. Consumers are spending less on home improvements and home furnishings due to the weak housing market. However, spending on apparel, consumer electronics, groceries, and health and beauty care remains stable.

What shoppers and other household members are doing to drive fewer miles:

• Planning errands to minimize the distance traveled (75%)
• Going to stores where I can do one stop shopping (58%)
• Going to stores that are closer to home or work (55%)
• Doing more activities around the house instead of driving places (47%)
• Doing more online shopping (26%)
• Visiting friends and family that don’t live close by, less often (23%)
• Reducing miles driven during vacations (17%)
• Walking/bicycling to places instead of driving (15%)
• Doing more carpooling (10%)
• Using public transportation (8%)
• Telecommuting to work/working from home more often (6%)
• Other (4%)