+1 800 967-0030

Positive Impact the Coronavirus Could Have on eCommerce

The newest strain of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has reached the United States, and isolation and social distancing measures have quickly been put in place. As a result, less people are going out to public places, and more are opting to shop online for their essentials.

Although the coronavirus pandemic is devastating in many ways, we are optimistic that it will have a positive, long-term effect on the eCommerce industry. The coronavirus will change the way people shop in the future, including who shops online, the products that consumers purchase online, as well as the ways that people shop online.

Here, we will explain in more detail the ways that the coronavirus could have a positive impact on eCommerce:

Coronavirus will change who shops online.

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, 69% of Americans had shopped online at least once, with 25% shopping online at least once per month. Both percentages are expected to increase, as the coronavirus pandemic is causing more people to avoid brick-and-mortar stores and shop online from the safety of their homes.

Elderly people who have never shopped online before are now more likely to alter their behavior, as the virus has proven to be more dangerous for them. Although this demographic has been slow to adopt eCommerce, they may rethink visiting crowded, germy stores and opt to purchase what they need online.

Coronavirus will change what consumers purchase online.

Food, beverages and health supplements were already rapidly growing eCommerce sectors, and this is only expected to increase with the coronavirus outbreak. In order to avoid going to stores, consumers are purchasing more groceries online, and many are taking additional vitamins to stay healthy. Once they see how easy it is to purchase groceries and supplements online, many customers will likely continue doing so long after the coronavirus crisis subsides.

To help keep up with the surge in orders, it’s crucial that eCommerce businesses within these industries consider partnering with a 3PL services provider for their food, beverage, and dietary supplement fulfillment. Here at ShipWizard, all products are stored and shipped from FDA-registered fulfillment centers, ensuring that they arrive fresh and safe for consumption.

Some other eCommerce sectors that will likely see an increase in orders as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are the pet product, cleaning product, and household goods sectors.

Social shopping will increase.

In the last year or so, an increasing amount of people have been doing their shopping on social media platforms. Channels including Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube have introduced “buy” buttons and significantly improved their social selling features, which is great news for eCommerce merchants- particularly those selling clothes, accessories, and home décor products.

While quarantined or distancing themselves, people will be bored and likely spend more time browsing social media, which can result in more online sales. If your brand is not currently on social media, consider creating a social presence. If your brand is on social media, we recommend brainstorming creative ways to enhance your social presence and drive sales.

April 08, 2020
Share This:

Related Posts

RECENT POSTS

Why ShipWizard Is the Fulfillment Partner Your Business Deserves

If you operate an e-commerce business, finding the right third-party logistics (3PL) partner can make or break your success. Welcome to ShipWizard—where we turn the chaos of order fulfillment into smooth sailing for your business! If you’re searching for a 3PL partner...

Smart Strategies for Smooth Vitamin Fulfillment

Vitamin Order Fulfillment: A Prescription For Happy Customers The body needs 13 essential vitamins to function properly, and yet 90% of Americans are vitamin deficient. If your online store sells vitamins, this spells out a significant market. According to a recent...

5 Clothing Fulfillment Challenges and How ShipWizard Solves Them

Are you ready to dress your e-commerce business for success, your brand for your runway? Clothing is one of the most popular e-commerce categories. The online share of total retail sales of apparel and footwear in the US was 34.4% in 2021 - that means 34.4% of...

Hot Deals, Cool Shipping: Summer 2025 Fulfillment

Make Your Online Store Sizzle This Summer As the sun climbs higher and the days grow longer, summer 2025 is bringing a wave of must-have products that are flying off virtual shelves—and savvy sellers are turning to ShipWizard to keep up with the seasonal rush. From...