By: Mohamed Shawky – Nahla Ahmed

Each quarter we take a pulse of retail activity that we are seeing on our platform. We first began tracking the surge in digital brought about by the pandemic with our 2020 Q1 Shopping Index as consumers shifted their shopping online last March and began to prioritize essential goods. With the release of our Q1 2021 Shopping Index, we’re seeing how the pandemic has helped usher in a new wave of digital shoppers that are here to stay.

With retailers and consumers moving online in response to the pandemic, Q1 data indicates that the habits formed over the course of the year and the 2020 holiday season are here to stay. As countries like the United States begin to reopen, retailers and businesses will need to rethink the role of the store (and store associates) and how it can serve as a critical component of the digital shopping experience in 2021.

An analysis of spending between March 15th and March 19th that compared 2021 to 2020 revealed that the top growing categories were luxury handbags, active apparel and electronics and accessories. 

 “Retailers were forced to be scrappy last year as they reacted to an influx of new digital shoppers and embraced new tactics like curbside pickup to help keep consumers safe,” said Rob Garf, VP and GM, Retail at Salesforce. “The growth in digital commerce over the first quarter is a signal that retailers will need to continue to scale their investments in digital while refocusing the in-store experience. Ultimately, stores must offer a balance of contactless and immersive experiences to cater to the differing needs of consumers.”