What are the implications for vending?
– 44% of social media users hope to receive discounts and rewards for following shopping brands online
– Shoppers voted for ‘card-only checkouts’ as being the next big technological step they’d like to see from grocery retailers
Future Thinking, the business intelligence research consultancy, has revealed the findings of the 2015 Shopper Barometer, an annual independent study of current trends and future consumer habits of UK shoppers. The research showed that 44% of British shoppers follow brands on social media in the hope to receive discounts and rewards for their loyalty. The survey, now in its third year, monitors the sentiments of over 1,200 consumers to determine future shopping trends.
Social media plays an important role for shoppers, with over a quarter (26%) following retailers on social media. The biggest group of users following brands on social media are under 35s (60%), followed closely by families (59%) and women (51%). More than half (52%) ‘like’ or ‘follow’ brands on social media, with Facebook (93%) and Twitter (52%) being the most popular platforms. Significantly, a third (32%) of UK shoppers use social media platforms to seek advice or leave an opinion about a product or brand.
In order to keep up with the growing trend, vending operators should ensure they consider the social media activity of the brands they stock, as well as engaging with their customers through their own social media presence.
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