Consumer Covid concerns drive online shopping spike

Lingering concerns among consumers related to Covid, combined with ongoing lockdowns, has seen a surge in e-commerce orders with the over 50s also jumping on the bandwagon.

As lockdowns seem set to continue in places such as New South Wales and Victoria, the move to shop online rather than at traditional retail outlets is fast becoming the norm.

A recent survey conducted by parcel delivery service Couriers Please found:

• 56% of Aussies will continue shopping more online than they did before the shutdowns… This indicates that health concerns of Covid-19 will continue to linger, “as many seek to avoid person to person encounters in retail stores”
• Over 50s have also shifted to shopping online with Couriers Please finding, “43% of over 50s” look to continue online shopping post lockdown

Couriers Please Chief Commercial Officer Phil Reid says Covid has seen major changes to the e-commerce industry.

“Physical distancing restrictions, travel bans, and business closures have really forced the hand of traditional shoppers who have been historically wary of venturing online, as their concerns shifted towards a fear of physical contact from visits to public spaces,” Mr Reid said.

Australia Post recently saw an increase in revenue, partly due to the uptake in online shopping throughout lockdowns, according to a recent statement from Australia Post Acting Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Rodney Boys.

“This strong result rests with the hard work of our people, who have continued to deliver every day through the challenges of a pandemic and numerous lockdowns,” Mr Boys said.

“The strength of eCommerce – up 31.8 per cent as Australians took to online shopping in record numbers – has supported the result, as did the temporary regulatory changes which allowed us to meet the significant parcel demand and ongoing mail delivery.”