The early days of stage 4 restrictions in Victoria have offered up some learnings others may find useful.
- Shoppers are less tolerant. People have a shorter fuse, leading to more outbursts of anger in-store.
- People are stocking-up. Cards, crosswords, games, jigsaws … these and some other categories are benefiting. Take cards, for example, several times over the last 2 days we have seen people buy 10+ cards in a purchase, so they have what they need for the next two months.
- Jigsaws continue to be a hero category.
- People want easy. They like gift packs, ready to buy.
- Impulse at the counter works. Easy to understand products at the counter are working.
- Father’s Day is early. Yes, I have noted this previously. sales are good.
- People want more. Shoppers are asking for products not usually stocked, products they would get elsewhere but those stores are closed.
- Online is hot. Yes, I’ve said this before. Interestingly, sales volume later at night is up.
I suspect that outside of Victoria, businesses that are online are seeing growth in sales for delivery into Victoria.