The products flying off the shelves during retail slump
As consumers settle into COVID-19 lockdown and try to make their homes a comfort zone, some products are flying off the shelves. See which items have bucked the retail slide during coronavirus closures.
VIC News
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Spending on home and self-care products surged by almost 20 per cent last month, buoying the nation’s tentative retail recovery.
Homewares and furniture, electrical goods and hardware purchases were up in May, according to the recent Zip Weekly Spending Index.
Home entertainment and office goods, toiletries, cosmetics, alcohol and lounge wear have also been in high demand, and online shopping has soared.
Some retail outlets, big and small, that kept their doors open and toughed out the lockdown are starting to claw back to profitability.
Business at boutique South Melbourne home and lifestyle store Nest has been up and down during the pandemic, with “some very very tough times and some very, very low figures”.
But the shop stayed open to keep staff in jobs and supply customers with products to make their homes more pleasant during the lockdown, owner Kevin Mowles said.
“We found that people came to us, looking for ideas (to improve their homes),” Mr Mowles said.
“We have highlights in our business that I think saved us … things like lounge wear, home fragrances and hand care. Without those components, we would have found it very tricky.”
Lounge wear, hand cream, scented candles and room sprays also sold well.
Australian Retailers Association chief Paul Zahra said there had been “a big shift” towards home and self-care — and comfort.
“Anything with an elasticised waist has been popular including ugg boots and slippers,” he said.
MYOB economist Jon Manning said Victorians had also been gifting themselves “little treats”.
Research by his business management company showed while most Australians were tightening their belts, 23 per cent were buying more small treats than usual, mostly for less than $50.
“Given the circumstances it’s not surprising to see people buying items to lift their mood while spending more time at home,” Mr Manning said.
“We’re seeing many Aussies making small non-essential purchases, usually for themselves, and half of them doing so weekly.”
In good news for small businesses, 85 per cent were buying from their local shops, he said.
An Australia Post report shows e-commerce was up 80 per cent in the first eight weeks of the pandemic, and a Deloitte report revealed that while the retail sector was in trouble, “supermarkets, pharmacies and hardware … have been experiencing a golden run”.
But experts are also concerned retail could plummet in September when Jobkeeper payments end and the full impact of the pandemic is felt.
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