Por Maritza Morales
We have witnessed quite a few radical changes in the past year, both in people's behavior, consumption patterns, ways of living, and collective lifestyle changes that have led brands and companies to make adaptations to the products and services they offer, from their essence to the way they deliver them.
We can observe new consumer behaviors from late 2019 to 2021, where we find the following:
Minimalism
Less is more, or the simpler, the better... We used to hear the term, however, now more and more people are putting it into practice. During the pandemic, we realized the essential, the truly important, one thing we must have, and everything will be fine.
Health, from there stems this concept of not needing to buy things to feel fulfilled and happy; we can consume, but consciously, focusing on the essentials for living well, seeking options that are truly convenient for our new lifestyle and budget. Here, companies have an opportunity to improve the proposals they offer, from the product quality, production method, sustainability, and price.
Home Security
Before the pandemic, I can say that we hadn't spent as much time in our homes. With the drastic changes of lockdowns and remote work, we realized that having a comfortable and secure place to live is one of the priorities of our lives.
Nowadays, people seek to create defined spaces for each activity within the home in a safe manner, such as a workspace (office), a space for their children's schooling (homeschooling), recreational areas, creative spaces, etc.
How will companies dedicated to this sector capitalize on offering eco-friendly, practical products that adapt to the new needs of the home?
Shopping Methods
Just over a year ago, we saw people crowded in stores, grocery shopping, buying clothes, shoes, sporting goods, and acquiring services such as in-person classes, movies, restaurants, etc. Today, for safety and convenience, we make most of these purchases from our homes, sitting in front of a computer or cell phone. We have countless options for making purchases that are delivered to our doorstep.
That's why e-commerce will continue to grow not only in Mexico (in 2020 it had a growth of over 38%) but worldwide, and more and more companies are betting on entering this way of selling.
Local Consumption
We have developed an increasingly strong culture of consuming from local shops and businesses. It initially began due to the lack of accessibility to products or brands that we were accustomed to buying before 2020. However, now a culture of supporting and consuming local brands has emerged, which supports the economy, jobs, and social environment of communities. This year, let's hope to continue consuming consciously and that it's not just a passing trend.
Creativity at its Peak
Due to the limitations we faced in every aspect of life in 2020—the loss of jobs, the lack of physical interaction with family and friends, the closure of recreational activities, travel restrictions, and more—we were forced to become more creative and engage in activities we had forgotten about, focusing on the essentials and enjoying the basics. Many entrepreneurs started new businesses or found innovative ways to be productive to overcome these challenges. Now, companies must continue to evolve and be creative to stay competitive.
Let's seize the opportunities that these changes in the last 12 months have brought us, whether as conscious consumers/buyers or as companies/brands offering a real experience, commitment to society, and holistic benefits with what we offer.