Many Americans Plan to Continue Doing Most of Their Shopping Online, Even as Pandemic Restrictions Ease, Ware2Go Survey Reveals
July 08 2021 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
When asked what retailers can do to entice them to shop more,
free shipping was a top answer
Americans did more online shopping during the pandemic and plan
to continue, even as brick-and-mortar stores reopen, according to a
new survey from Ware2Go, the UPS (NYSE:UPS) founded company
enabling merchants of all sizes to achieve 1- to 2-day shipping
guarantees.
The survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Propeller
Insights on behalf of Ware2Go in May 2021 also found that free
shipping and sustainability are powerful incentives for Americans
making purchases online.
“The pandemic pushed people to take more of their business and
shopping online, and now that shoppers have had a taste of that
convenience, the bar for merchants has again been raised to compete
and win,” said Ware2Go CEO Steve Denton. “Our research shows that
shipping speed directly impacts brand loyalty and that brands have
an incentive to prioritize sustainability. I’m happy to say Ware2Go
can help them with both.”
The pandemic changed how we shop
A majority of Americans (79%) increased their online shopping
due to the pandemic, and 89% plan to do as much or more of their
shopping online, even as restrictions on in-person shopping ease.
What’s more, almost a third (31%) say they have an urge to spend
now that COVID-19 restrictions are easing.
The top five things Americans are most likely to purchase
in-store instead of online include:
- Groceries
- Clothing
- Cleaning products
- Furniture
- Nutritional supplements
During the pandemic, 1 in 5 Americans preferred to keep items
they were unhappy with instead of returning them, and 44% were
reliant on some form of airmail to handle their returns.
Americans still love fast, free shipping
In spite of 2020’s supply chain issues, a full third of
Americans say the pandemic raised their expectations for timely
shipping, and 40% say it increased their expectations for free
shipping. Although curbside pickup boomed during the pandemic, a
majority of people only chose this option out of immediate
necessity (54%) or if shipping was too expensive (40%). In fact,
twice as many survey respondents preferred 1- to 2-day shipping as
preferred curbside pickup.
The survey results also indicate that fast, free shipping has
very real implications for brand loyalty. For example:
- When asked what retailers can do to entice them to shop more,
54% of Americans said free shipping. Other top answers included 1-
to 2-day shipping (42%), loyalty points (42%), and in-store
discounts (38%).
- 80% are more likely to make a purchase online if the brand
offers free shipping.
- 75% are more likely to make a purchase if the brand offers
shipping in two days or less.
- More than three-quarters (79%) say they are more likely to
purchase from a brand again if the shipping was fast.
- 69% are more likely to click on an ad that offers fast, free
shipping.
Sustainability matters to American consumers
A majority of Americans (88%) also said sustainability is an
important consideration for purchasing decisions, and two-thirds
(66%) said it has become more important as a result of the
pandemic.
- More than half (55%) of consumers are willing to pay extra for
sustainable shipping.
- Two-thirds (66%) are more likely to purchase from a brand with
carbon-neutral shipping if the product and shipping costs are the
same.
When asked about what sustainable practices are most important
in retailers, almost half (47%) said recycled packaging. This was
followed by eco-friendly shipping protocols (41%), carrying green
brands (30%), promoting conversations about sustainability on
social media (30%), and partnerships with green organizations
(27%).
This survey comes on the heels of two relevant Ware2Go
initiatives: NetworkVu, a free application that maximizes merchant
delivery speeds within ground networks while controlling costs; and
the Carbon Offset Shipping Network for all small parcel, LTL, FTL,
and air shipments within its network. All Ware2Go clients are
automatically enrolled at no cost.
About Ware2Go
Ware2Go, a UPS Company, is changing the traditional 3PL model to
make 1- to 2-day delivery easy and affordable for all merchants by
positioning products closer to end customers for a fast,
inexpensive and reliable order-to-delivery experience. Ware2Go
offers an integrated solution for warehousing, pick, pack, and
shipping services to businesses of all sizes through an intuitive
cloud-based technology platform that makes it easy to extend your
distribution footprint and scale up and down as your operational
needs change. Ware2Go simplifies nationwide fulfillment to help you
meet your customers’ needs and expectations.
For more information about this press release, please contact
Gabrielle Jasinski at gabrielle@bospar.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005071/en/
Gabrielle Jasinski gabrielle@bospar.com
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