RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Shopping Malls, typically bustling with people carrying bags upon bags, were forced to take an unprecedented decision in this very different 2020 – they closed their doors with no idea when they would open again, and street shops were limited to the essentials, mostly pharmacies and supermarkets.
These were necessary measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. And so mankind has gone for a few months deprived of the physical experience, in which the five senses come into full play at the simple touch of that desired smartphone. Does this mean that no one has been shopping in these different times? Not at all.
People evidently found their way, channeling their consumerism drive to the internet, where e-commerce and delivery boomed. One widely shared statement in the business world is that this year was worth five when it comes to the progress of online business.
While retail within four walls slimmed down, e-commerce increased by 47% compared to the first semester of 2019, the highest recorded in two decades, reaching the level of R$38.8 billion (US$7.8 billion) in Brazil, according to Ebit|Nielsen Consulting.
It became clear that mistrust towards remote buying – will the product come? will it be the same as the photo? – was dispelled among Brazilians, helped by improved home delivery services.
“Those who had never gone shopping on the internet, began to do so. Those who were already buying began to buy even more,” says Eduardo Terra, president of the Brazilian Society of Retail and Consumption.
And so the city scenario changed, with delivery workers riding motorcycles, bicycles, and even skateboards across empty streets. Even when relaxation reopened trade under new rules, apps continued operating full steam ahead, as part of people’s habits, and iFood, Rappi, etc. helped ease the bleeding in restaurant tills.
Retail giants such as Magazine Luiza and Pão de Açúcar capitalized on the surge, expanding their product offering and acquiring specialized delivery startups.
Source: Veja