25 Mar Top Consumer Trends of 2022

The coronavirus pandemic has forever left an impression on how people feel, think, and shop and their habits will be much different in the near future. This is a critical time for understanding current trends in human behavior with the world-changing so dramatically in such a short period. People are now more dependent on the internet than ever before. Whether consumers log into their favorite online casino or browse at their favorite retailer, the way consumers shop for products has forever changed.

The new trends forced by the pandemic are not slowing down, and businesses that want to survive need to know what consumers want and act quickly to satisfy their needs, whether we are talking about sustainable shoes or access to community groups. There are a number of current consumer trends that companies should know to help plan their market strategies in 2022 and well into the future.

Being More Health Conscious

One of the top trends among consumers is that they are much more health-conscious than before. More people now say that the health of their family and friends is their top priority, with slightly less being concerned with their personal health.

After many months of wearing protective masks, being isolated indoors, trying to meal plan and prioritizing hygiene, staying healthy has remained in everyone’s minds. Recent research shows that 87% of U.S. shoppers prefer to shop in stores with self-checkout capabilities rather than coming in contact with a human cashier. As a result, retail companies must now consider using new technologies to help customers feel safe in the future.

Mental Health Awareness

Along with the pressure of trying to stay healthy during a worldwide pandemic, the world’s mental health has taken an overall turn for the worse. Many people confined to their homes for months reported increased anxiety, with the disruption of schooling as a major contributing factor.

Middle-aged adults faced a lot of stress-related to their parents’ health and worrying about how their children were dealing with their situations during the pandemic. Older adults were most at-risk during the crisis, and being isolated and sometimes alone for months at a time has had a negative effect on their mental health.

Companies must now take the mental health of their customers into account and do whatever they can to help support them. Now is undoubtedly the time for them to start a conversation about mental health while being careful and sensitive to the issue.

More Community Driven

Being locked down for months can help people appreciate those around them much more. The pandemic has brought communities around the world closer together, which leads people to more selfless thinking. Community groups have started online, offering support to people in the neighborhood, such as food and medicine delivery and online social interaction.

Companies should now try to support local businesses and become part of the community, such as offering tips on how to donate products like old clothes or a baby swing to local hospitals. Also, by making it easier for customers to shop locally, these brands can become part of the neighborhood by celebrating the spirit of the community and acknowledging it. Creating community campaigns is currently a great way to get consumers’ attention.

Virtual Work and Learning

People appreciate the digital world more than ever since the coronavirus pandemic. The ease of conducting transactions online has made more people feel they no longer need to actually be present for all things. More consumers are adopting the attitude that if it can be done online, that’s how they will do it.

Virtual working and learning will become the norm in many places worldwide. In addition, increased time spent working online is likely to happen soon, with many companies planning to permanently move to work remotely after the coronavirus crisis.

The challenge for many tech brands in the B2B sector is to help companies and their workers get the most production from working from home. A model these businesses can emulate is the new Microsoft global skills initiative, which is targeted at helping workers learn new digital skills that will be vital as they move into the future.