Coronavirus is Changing Everything | Those Who Know Their Consumers Best Positioned to Thrive

Coronavirus is Changing Everything

Those Who Know Their Consumers Best Positioned to Thrive

Now that we are in the pandemic times, consumer behavior has dramatically changed from what it was just a few months ago. Answer this — how are your target consumers learning about your brand and products now? How are consumers shopping for your products? How are they using your products in their home? All of these areas of consumer behavior have changed and are still evolving.

Photo source: Getty Images

Shoppers are now much more intentional about what they plan to buy.

Many of the folks I've interviewed so far, since the COVID-19 lockdown, (see our recent shopper research looking ahead to Summer) are what I call "mission shoppers" - consumers who are looking to get what's on their list and get out ASAP.

Since the pandemic started, I’ve had several clients and new clients hire us to conduct virtual research for them as they seek to keep a constant pulse on how their consumers think, behave and buy during these changing times. Our clients are testing marketing concepts, everything from TV spots to social media posts, and how to announce things like new product launches, all to ensure the messaging and imagery resonates, and is not perceived as inappropriate for the times.

Food & grocery, beverages (alcohol & non-alcoholic,) household products (like disinfectants and cleaning products,) and children’s products (educational, food & entertainment) have been the categories we’ve conducted the most research for recently.

As you may know, we most often focus on in-person, qualitative research, in the form of shop-alongs inside stores or inside consumers’ homes. For the foreseeable future, all of our shopper interviews will be conducted virtually.

Conducting Consumer Research to Better Adapt to Evolving Needs & Expectations

During difficult economic times, we often see the bigger, better-known brands perform the best. While there are certainly many factors that play into why that is, one of them is certainly research. The likes of Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, Reckitt Benckiser Group, Johnson & Johnson, The Clorox Company and The Coca-Cola Company are constantly keeping a pulse on how their target consumers are learning about, shopping for and using their products. Knowing your consumer, not just guessing, is always important, but now more than ever. If you want to survive, or better than that, thrive, during this new age, you better be a few steps ahead. In order to do that, you must know what your consumer is thinking and doing now so you can adapt and best serve their needs.

Contact us to stop the guessing game and get real insights about your consumers that you can start putting into practice now. We can leverage our own panel of consumers, recruit your consumers or help you build your own consumer panel.

Photo Tour of Thanopoulos (Θανόπουλος) - Athens, Greece

Supermarket Tour | Thanopoulos (Θανόπουλος in Greek) in Athens, Greece

While in Greece recently on holidays, I took some time to squeeze in a bit of work. I've been to Greece several times before, (my husband is from Greece) but this was my first time doing a proper supermarket tour of Athens and conducting shopper research there. 

Athens has some lovely supermarkets and one of my favorites is Thanopoulos, known for stocking a wide variety of products from all over the world and the place to 'see and be seen' apparently. For those not already familiar with Thanopoulos, it is a privately-held family business that has been around since 1877.  Thanopoulos currently has three locations in Athens. I visited the Thanopoulos supermarket in the neighborhood of Kifissia (Κηφισιά,) an upscale residential and shopping district, and quite possibly my favorite place in Athens, other than the coast (Vouliagmeni is still my most favorite spot.) Have a look inside one of Athen's best supermarkets, Thanaopoulos, located at: N. Kifissia Ελαιών 38 14564 Athens, GR-A1.

Entrance to Thanopoulos N. Kifissia store

View from the large, roof top patio offering views of nearby mountains.

From the roof top patio. There is a cafe just inside.

View from the second level, looking down on the cash registers.

Organic fruit & vegetables

Fancy Greek olive oils, something Greece is certainly very well known for in the USA.

Minced/ground beef. Lamb and pork, however, seem to be the meats of choice in Greece.

The meat aisle

Organic poultry with the EU Organic Farming certification. Other than that label, nothing real signifiant in terms of claims & product attributes.

Notice some familiar American brands on the snack ailse.

Tons of fancy Greek honey.

Love this pretty honey packaging.

Natural laundry products

The Greeks take their sea salt very seriously. I buy some of these same brands at my local Greek specialty food shop in Washington, DC.

My first time seeing donkey milk.

Organic Greek chocolate

Dining space & cafe

A special perk for parents - a play space with an attendant to watch your children while you grocery shop. This mom loves seeing special accomodations for moms, parents and children.

One more shot from the roof top patio. It was so pretty, I came up here for coffee and a meeting.

If I lived in Athens, I would definitely shop here. It's a modern beautiful, store with lovely amenities and a huge variety of international products on offer. It's no wonder that Athenians are willing to drive out of their way (in some cases,) just to shop at one of the three Thanopoulos locations. 

Stayed tuned here on our blog, #GetInHerCart, for more grocery store visits from our travels around the world as we speak at various conferences and conduct shopper research in different markets. 

- Lisa Mabe-Konstantopoulos, Founder, Green Purse PR

Photo Tour | Woolworths in Crows Nest, Sydney

I recently returned from a business trip to Sydney, Australia, where I used to be based. I was in town to speak at the Naturally Good Expo and Naturally Good Business Summit. While there I had a look at some of Sydney's grocery retail scene, including some of the stores I used to shop at when I lived in Sydney.

One of the stores I visited was Woolworths in Crows Nest. This 'Woolies' store just reopened in April 2016 after two years of major renovation. I shopped at this Woolies during my time in Sydney; last time I was here it was still being demolished. Now, $52 million later in redevelopment, it's a completely different store. Previously it was a very tired, soulless, one-level store -- the kind that's so unpleasant, you can hardly wait to get out of it. Now it's shiny, new and includes multiple-levels. 

Below are some photos I took of Woolworths located at 10 Falcon St, Crows Nest NSW 2065, Australia.

Woolworths - Crows Nest, Sydney

Such a beautiful structure on the outside. Crows Nest is an adorable community, but it could use some updating. The new Woolworths helps modernise the community. 

Main level includes lots of grab & go options.

Spotted several products featuring the Australian Certified Organic bud, Australia's most recognised organic certification amongst Australian consumers.

This Thomas Dux corner on the first floor made me sad. I'm glad Woolworths still managed to let the brand live on in some form, but I'm disappointed that the stand alone stores no longer exist. Thomas Dux Grocer closed about two years ago. There used to be an outstanding Thomas Dux right around the corner from here; it's now a different store, called About Life. Read my blog post, photo tour of About Life here.

Stayed tuned here on our blog, #GetInHerCart, for more information on grocery retail and from our travels around the world as we speak at various conferences and conduct shopper research in different markets.