A recent survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of PayPal shows that we now have a tendency to help our fellow human beings more and more. During the pandemic, 74% of charitable payments were made online.
· The same Ipsos report also records the growing popularity of contactless payment methods. Half of Millennials prefer to avoid contact with the terminal, while 4 in 10 seniors (43%) seem ready to give up cash altogether from now on.
«Faced with an unprecedented situation, all of us made huge changes in our daily lives, now incorporating into our routine new creative ways of employment, combined with an altruistic disposition for the good of the community. In essence, what we experienced urged us to change the fixed perception about our former way of life. The European-wide survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of PayPal, reveals a major turning point in shopping and consumption habits in Greece during duration of the restrictive measures, and more specifically, guided by the spirit of solidarity and interest in the local community, with targeted actionsSaid Efi Dahan, PayPal General Manager for Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America.
While Greeks remained loyal to name brands during the lockdown, mainly thanks to the wide variety of items on offer, it was the small and medium-sized businesses that sparked interest and gained so much attention. confidence as well as the recognition from our side, showing in practice the importance we give to strengthening the local community and economy.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents (62%) shopped from small local stores in quarantine and 32% shopped online from small and medium-sized brands. Almost half of the respondents decided to make a purchase in a small and medium business or in a neighborhood store in order to support both the local and national economy. This trend seems to continue in the future, after the lifting of restrictive measures, as 58% of Greeks say they intend to buy even more local products.
Two thirds of the general population (66%) feel obliged to support small businesses in their area. This seems particularly important for older people, as 87% over the age of 65 believe that support for the local economy is necessary to overcome the pandemic crisis.
Προ Even before the crisis, cash was gradually losing its popularity compared to other payment methods. The pandemic has literally accelerated this process, as 6 out of 10 respondents in Greece are considering trying new contactless payment solutions in stores. Half of Millennials prefer to use contactless transactions to avoid using PINs.
43 65% of people over the age of XNUMX would give up using cash altogether from now on.
Other payment methods are gradually shifting and becoming online. During the quarantine, half of Greeks (51%) paid their household bills online or through mobile applications. 70% of respondents said that even after the lockdown they will still pay their household bills exclusively online. "Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, people have been avoiding cash because they are afraid of being infected with the virus. Greeks are also reluctant to touch touch screens in stores. "This mentality is not going to change and we will now experience a new normality," said Efi Dahan.
While they were able to discover a wide range of online services and activities, 9 out of 10 Greeks (89%) pointed out the advantages of online shopping in the midst of the lockdown, such as not having to wait in checkout lines (61%), the possibility of delivery home (46%) and competitive prices or offers-discounts (44%).
«With the entire population of the planet forced to stay indoors at the same time overnight, the appetite for online shopping proved to be truly insatiable. The increase in activity we have seen in recent months can only be compared to the overall situation that has prevailed for the last two or maybe four years, with the progressive adoption of digital payments and the process of abandoning cash.", Adds Dahan.
The most popular categories in online shopping amid the pandemic included the following goods: clothing, footwear and fashion accessories (37%), cosmetics and beauty products (31%), electronics-computers (31%), pharmacy and medicines ( 29%), as well as household equipment and garden items (23%). In addition, one in five Greeks (20%) said they took advantage of the opportunity to shop online orders food and drink.
Of course, there were many and often significant differences between the age groups and the different generations. Younger consumers were more likely to buy services online and more willing to sell products and services online. On the other hand, the larger buyers (65 years and older) mainly appreciated the access to shops or items outside the home and the direct delivery to their door.
An equally important finding of the research is that the crisis awakened the feeling of altruism in Greeks, as well as the mutual desire for mutual help.
At the time of the coronavirus, one in ten respondents in our country started volunteering or making donations, with 74% of them now prefer online donations. In general, the Greek population tends to choose a specific charity for donations and in most cases it is ultimately about strengthening a small local community and not necessarily a well-known international organization.
About the research methodology
The international company investigations Ipsos conducted market research on the growth of online shopping and payments, commissioned by PayPal. Participants answered questions about their experience in this area during three different time periods: before, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their motivations and plans after the confinement period. The survey took place between 8-29 May 2020 with a total sample of 26.000 people in 13 European countries, including Greece (15-29 May 2020).
