The “new normal” is not so new anymore. Many of the innovations in retail that were popularized in the early spring – like online grocery shopping and curbside pickup – show indications of lasting adoption among consumers. Even once the COVID-19 crisis ends, it’s likely that the new shopper behaviors it inspired will continue to see widespread use.

Here’s where our consumer insights were featured in July:

Digital Commerce 360, “New and occasional online shoppers turn to ecommerce during the pandemic.” July 8, 2020.

• The coronavirus has created new swaths of dedicated ecommerce shoppers, and their loyalty is up for grabs. Digital Commerce 360 promoted our new infographic on how COVID-19 is changing retail in an article documenting this trend.

Digital Commerce 360, “Online grocery sales keep growing as the coronavirus pandemic continues.” July 8, 2020.

• Online grocery is continuing to grow, with over 45 million shoppers utilizing it in the last month. There is a strong indication that this will be a lasting shift in how consumers shop for groceries, as thus far, most of them have been highly satisfied with their experience. According to a Bizrate Insights survey, 65% of shoppers rated their experience as an 8 out of 10 or higher.

Digital Commerce 360, “Apparel retailers launch curbside pickup en masse.” July 17, 2020.

• Curbside pickup is rapidly growing from a niche offering into an industry standard, with over 34% of apparel retailers offering it in June compared to just 1.6% in January. Many consumers are eager to use the new fulfillment option, with 8% trying it for the first time since shelter-in-place orders began.

Digital Commerce 360, “The Shopper Speaks: One mother’s back-to-college journey.” July 21, 2020.

• The 2020 back-to-school season presents a massive opportunity for ecommerce businesses. Back-to-school online shoppers are projected to spend over $10 billion on college, an increase of over $2 billion from 2020. Social distancing is not the only reason for the rise in ecommerce spending; Bizrate Insights data found that 36% of digital apparel shoppers shop online to save money.

eMarketer, “Why Small Businesses Could Benefit from the Launch of Facebook Shops.” July 23, 2020.

• In May, Facebook launched their Facebook Shops ecommerce platform in the hopes of enticing more small businesses to use Facebook for more than just advertising. While the pandemic presents an exciting opportunity for social commerce, it remains a relatively niche behavior, with 18% of consumers making a purchase through Facebook and only 11% through Instagram, according to a Bizrate Insights survey.

The typical consumer has dramatically changed their behavior and expectations over the last four months. Is your business ready to change with them? Prepare your store with our Retailer’s 2020 Reboot Checklist and follow Bizrate Insights on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with our latest findings.