A Look at Holiday Shopping in a Pandemic
Though Black Friday is already in the past, the holiday shopping season is well underway. With coronavirus cases continuing to surge at unprecedented levels (topping 2,000 new cases a day according to data), health and safety concerns are affecting the holiday shopping season significantly. If you are making holiday shopping plans, consider the advice of health experts before heading out to the stores.
Online Shopping Surge
Due to the health concerns that come with heading to the stores in person, online shopping is expected to see much more traffic than usual. As a result, retailers are scrambling to improve their online shopping experience and maintain product availability. However, as a shopper, you should keep in mind that you might experience some delay in receiving certain items, depending on how popular they turn out to be this holiday season. Shoppers should account for extra time for delivery and processing as well, particularly due to extra precautions put in place to deal with safety concerns amid the pandemic.
What about the Stores?
Though many Americans report that they feel safe shopping in stores (as opposed to other activities, like returning to work or flying on a plane), most experts recommend avoiding shopping in person whenever possible. Many stores have adjusted their policies, allowing for curbside pickup and other services that can minimize your exposure when out in public. If you must shop in person, try to plan your shopping trip accordingly. Be certain to wear a mask and keep your distance from other shoppers as much as possible. Consider planning your shopping trip during off-hours, when fewer individuals are likely to be out and about. This can be early in the morning or late at night, depending on your preference, but the important thing is to try and minimize your exposure to multiple strangers.
You may also want to consider making a more detailed list of exactly which items you need to pick up. Now is not the time for you to spend hours browsing the mall looking for just the right gift. Instead, you will want to make your in-person visits as quick as possible. Head in and out, minimizing your time inside the building.
Stay Home if You’re High Risk
Despite the precautions you can take when entering stores, the reality is that if you are high risk, you should limit your exposure to others as much as possible. Likely, this will mean staying home and shopping online.