Consumers: Focusing on offers and price comparisons ... and refraining from storing goods in large quantities

Ramadan 2021 ... "Selective Buying" and a major change in shoppers' habits

Expectations of a remarkable increase in sales, especially food and household items.

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Consumers confirmed to Emirates Today that their buying and consumption habits during the current month of Ramadan have witnessed major changes compared to the previous seasons of Ramadan, pointing out that they have refrained from storing goods in large quantities, and they have also stopped buying any commodity whose price increases, and they accept to buy low-priced goods. In offers after comparing them with their counterparts, and in suitable quantities.

They stressed that the period of restriction of movement that they lived during Ramadan 2020, during the height of the global Corona pandemic, gave them confidence in the availability of all goods, and that there was no need to store them.

In turn, sales officials said that they have noticed a trend by consumers towards "selective purchase", such as focusing on basic commodities, especially food, pointing out that consumers are becoming more aware, at a time when sales outlets are receiving many inquiries about commodity prices before and after offers. , Production date and validity.

Buying habits

In detail, consumer Fadia Muharram said that the buying and consumption habits during the current month of Ramadan have changed a lot, compared to the previous seasons of Ramadan, noting that she used to buy large quantities of food during the previous Ramadan seasons, and store a large part of it, but she stopped buying quantities. You don't need it in the short term, and it has also stopped stocking large quantities.

Muharram explained that the closure period witnessed last Ramadan, at the height of the global Corona pandemic, and the availability of all goods in the country, gave her confidence in the availability of all goods, and that there is no need to store them.

And she confirmed that she is studying the offers offered, and comparing them with their counterparts in other outlets, to decide to buy offers for the goods that you need only, and in the quantities you need only.

She said that she learned from the Corona crisis the need to pay attention to saving, and not spend her money except on what she really needs, indicating that she was affected by awareness campaigns about rationalizing consumption and not being extravagant, after noticing that some of the goods that she buys are not used, and that the validity of some of them is close to Finished, or inferior in quality to newly produced goods, in terms of taste.

Spending pattern

For her part, consumer Aisha Muhammad agreed that her spending pattern has changed clearly during the current month of Ramadan, especially with the continuing repercussions of the Coronavirus pandemic.

She emphasized that she had taken a decision not to buy goods whose prices were rising, and to choose the appropriate alternative for them, pointing to the abundance of commodities in general, and the existence of multiple alternatives for one commodity, with the convergence in the level of quality.

She added that it has become more keen to direct its spending to what it really needs, and has also become monitoring prices, especially with regard to offers of discounts, with price comparison before and after the offer.

Careful shopping

In the same context, consumer Muhammad Kadhim said that he has become cautious in spending during the current month of Ramadan, in light of the continuation of the Corona pandemic, and the reduction of employee salaries by some companies, pointing to the decline in his needs for some commodities, due to work from home.

He added that the return of companies to employment, the return of salaries to their previous levels, as well as the return of work from offices in some companies during the recent period, supports consumer spending during the coming period.

Kazem stated that he focuses his purchases on the offers of significantly reduced commodities, especially food, after the price comparison before and after the offer, and comparison with other similar goods, noting that the outlets offer unprecedented discounts during the current Ramadan, which provides good opportunities for purchase.

He stressed the importance of rationalizing spending in matters that the family needs, in anticipation of any future developments related to work.

Trust factor

For his part, consumer Amr Nassar said that he did not resort during the current month of Ramadan to buying and storing large quantities of goods, as happened last Ramadan, due to the confidence in the availability of goods, and the absence of a shortage in the markets, especially since the experience is in Ramadan 2020, During the period of the pandemic, it proved that commodities are available, and there is no fear of a shortage.

He also pointed out that he has become interested in studying the offers on the market well, and comparing them before the purchase decision.

As for the consumer Ahlam Al-Jabri, she assured «Emirates Today» that she buys what is sufficient for the family’s needs for a week or two at the most. She agrees that all goods are available, and that she does not buy any offer until after verifying its authenticity, and making a comparison with similar goods in terms of price. Weight and nutritional value.

«Selective purchase»

In addition, the sales official at a major outlet in the country, Masoud Anal, said that he noticed a demand for purchases during the current month of Ramadan, with consumers heading to "selective purchase", such as focusing on purchasing basic commodities, especially food, and low-priced goods in offers.

He added that consumers are becoming more aware, and sales outlets are receiving many inquiries from them about various matters, such as the prices of goods before and after the offers, and the expiration date of the goods.

In turn, a sales official at another outlet, Ahmed Seddiqi, said that the month of Ramadan is the best season for buying annually, pointing to a remarkable demand for purchases and expectations of a remarkable increase in sales, especially food and household items.

He continued: “It is noticeable that there is an increase in the demand for offers of basic commodities that are widely consumed and discounted goods,” pointing to the exhaustion of offers that include large discounts, especially of basic commodities that are indispensable in any home.

As for the sales official in a store for multi-use commodities, Sarah Mohammed, she confirmed to Emirates Today that there is a great demand for buying discounted goods.

She said that the store is witnessing a noticeable congestion during the period of promotions, indicating the preference for buying during the discounts seasons, rates of up to 60% compared to normal days.

Al-Bahar: The Coronavirus period shaped a deeper consumer culture

Retail expert Ibrahim Al-Bahr said that it is noticeable during the current month of Ramadan that there is no accumulation of goods in large quantities in shopping carts, as was the case during the past seasons of Ramadan.

Al-Bahr emphasized that consumers have become more aware, due to the repercussions of the Coronavirus pandemic, as the crisis has led to the formation of a deeper consumer culture among consumers, based on purchasing the goods they really need, not storing goods, avoiding extravagance, and not exaggerating spending on luxuries. With a study of prices and a comparison of what the sales outlets offer.

Al-Bahr expected that this policy will continue on the part of consumers, despite the return of employment companies, and the return of salary levels in some companies after reducing them, stressing that consumers have begun to feel the importance of saving in order to benefit from money in the future.

• The period of «Ramadan 2020» enhanced confidence in the availability of goods and the need to store them.

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