«Going Shopping» is Dead

Representative study on Swiss retail After supply chain bottlenecks, rising commodity prices and a shortage of skilled labour, another factor is now presenting retailers with a major challenge: time. It is becoming a critical resource when making consumer decisions. 30% of all Swiss people of working age are often or almost always under time pressure. Consumers want to spend less and less of their valuable time shopping. The results of the GDI's new retail study "Going Shopping" is Dead indicate that attitudes towards shopping have changed. It is no longer perceived as a pleasant leisure activity, but as a "tedious activity". Four shopper types The different attitudes to shopping are illustrated in the study with four shopper types: aimless dawdlers, strict needs shoppers, open-minded optimisers and efficient identity shoppers. Four ways out of the fun and meaning crisis for retailers To make shopping more attractive for customers again, retailers must adhere to four Ps, according to the GDI researchers: It must become faster (promptness), closer (proximity), more beautiful (pleasure) and more meaningful (purpose). Retailers must give people back their time and become time organisers for their customers.