66 per cent people prefer contact-less buying, home-deliveries

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The pandemic has brought about a drastic change in people's buying patterns. Even as states across the country start the unlock process with retailers demanding that they be allowed to open their shops, a recent survey has found 66 per cent Indians still prefer online shopping and no-contact home deliveries. Data also reveals that 51 per cent of them would shop for their children over the next three months, as the new academic session is set to begin soon.

The survey by LocalCircles - a community social media platform - has received more than 40,000 responses from citizens residing in 303 districts of the country. The platform has been conducting several surveys throughout the lockdown to help the government prepare policies based on public demand.

The survey has attempted to find out whether this trend of ordering things online is here to stay. Citizens were asked about their buying preferences for the next three months. In response, 66 per cent of the households said they prefer contact-less mode of buying and home deliveries adhering to social distancing norms.

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Another interesting finding of the survey shows that 51 per cent of the households wants to purchase different items for children. Sachin Taparia, founder of LocalCircles, elaborated, "One of the top points for which LocalCircles received consumer posts and queries in the last 45-60 days is the need to procure items related to children, ranging from books and stationery to things needed for extra-curricular activities or hobbies so parents can keep them engaged at home. Considering the percentage of must-have products, 39 per cent of the households said they will buy school books, stationery and equipment for online classes and 30 per cent said they will get other stuff related to kids such as toys to keep them engaged. About 27 per cent of the households said they will buy kids' apparel, footwear, raincoats, etc. Given that school sessions have just started in some states and are scheduled to start almost everywhere in the next 30 days, equipment for online classes and books are an immediate need for at least two out of five families." However, 45 per cent of the households said they need to purchase various items related to work/learn from home over the next three months and one in every three households is likely to purchase a gadget.

39%
Households that will buy school books, stationery

303
No. of districts in the country from where people have responded

40K
No. of responses the survey has received