The State of Retail: Trends in Consumer, Retail and Payment Preferences

PLEASANTON, Calif., Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid the rapid pace of transformation across the retail industry, new research(1) from Blackhawk Network reveals how people want to shop, pay and engage with retailers today. Although digital growth in retail continues, traditional modes of shopping and payments such as in-store purchasing and cash maintain a strong foothold in US retail consumer behavior. These are among the findings of the latest research commissioned by global branded payments provider Blackhawk Network.

"Transformation is occurring across retail in response to changing consumer preferences, advancements in technology and the evolution of payments," said Theresa McEndree, vice president of marketing, Blackhawk Network. "Our research highlights areas of vast disruption. Brands that are thriving are those actively looking for ways to overcome new challenges by creating fresh, seamless experiences to engage customers across the channels they find most valuable. At Blackhawk, we are continually examining and embracing these changes in order to evolve and enable our partners to meet shifting consumer needs."

Key trends currently shaping the retail industry according to Blackhawk's latest research:

In-store shopping is alive and well. Despite widespread retail innovation and disruption, traditional brick-and-mortar retail shopping remains relevant.

    --  Consumers are purchasing at retail stores as often, if not more often,
        than they did last year. Sixty-three percent of consumers surveyed are
        purchasing in-store as often as last year. Twenty-eight percent of
        consumers surveyed said they are using retail stores more frequently,
        compared to only nine percent of shoppers who report using retail stores
        less often.
    --  Convenience and speed are top motivators. Seventy-six percent of
        consumers surveyed reported convenience as their top motivation for
        shopping in-store. Fifty-six percent cited speed of purchase as a top
        motivator.
    --  In-store shopping provides the highest satisfaction out of all
        purchasing options. Ninety-two percent of shoppers surveyed report being
        somewhat or very satisfied with the in-store shopping experience, more
        than other purchasing options.
    --  Brick-and-mortar stores have the greatest repeat use. Physical retail
        stores see a significant amount of repeat use, driven largely by the
        buying power of loyal, older generations. Eighty-two percent of boomers
        surveyed said they purchase from retail stores at least monthly.

Online purchasing growth trends. Brick-and-mortar still has a strong foothold in the market, but with the support and purchasing power of younger generations, digital and mobile shopping continue to grow.

    --  Online shopping on a laptop or desktop computer with delivery selected
        is the second most frequently used shopping method. According to the
        research, nearly half (46 percent) of consumers surveyed currently use
        this method to shop at least monthly.
    --  Consumers are utilizing multiple channels for online purchasing.
        Forty-nine percent of consumers surveyed purchase on a laptop or desktop
        computer at least monthly, and 41 percent purchase on their mobile
        phone.
    --  Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to shop using their mobile phones.
        Eighty-one percent of Gen Zers and 83 percent of millennials surveyed
        have used a mobile purchasing option, compared to just 69 percent of Gen
        Xers and 43 percent of boomers.

Traditional payment methods still dominate. Payment option usage among those surveyed has remained steady, but how the payment options are being used is changing. For example, paying through a retailer's app still requires a credit card or debit card, but it is uploaded to and used through the app.

    --  Top payment methods among shoppers surveyed:
        --  Credit card (52 percent)
        --  Cash (43 percent)
        --  Debit card (42 percent)
    --  Digital gift cards continue to gain momentum. Physical gift cards are
        still preferred by in-store shoppers surveyed, but digital and physical
        gift card usage has evened out online. Eleven percent of shoppers
        surveyed report using digital gift cards as a top method of payment
        online, compared to 10 percent for physical gift cards.
    --  There is growing interest in points-based payments, especially among
        younger generations surveyed. Twenty-nine percent report paying with
        points more often than they did last year. Additionally, 70 percent of
        consumers surveyed said they are somewhat or very interested in paying
        with points.

About Blackhawk Network
Blackhawk Network delivers branded payment programs to meet our partners' business objectives. We collaborate with our partners to innovate, translating market trends in branded payments to increase reach, loyalty and revenue. With a presence in over 26 countries, we reliably execute branded payment programs in over 100 countries worldwide. Join us as we shape the future of global branded payments.

Blackhawk is headquartered in Pleasanton, California. For more information, please visit blackhawknetwork.com.

                        (1)
               Blackhawk Network Retail
                         Trends and Transformations research
                         includes two online surveys conducted by
                         Murphy Research on behalf of Blackhawk
                         Network between February 4 -12, 2019.
                         "Retail Trends and Transformations"
                         included a sample size of 3,381
                         respondents between the ages of 18 and
                         75. "Gift Card State of the Union"
                         included a sample size of 3,389
                         respondents between the ages of 18 and

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Courtney@fletchergroupllc.com

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SOURCE Blackhawk Network