Billions of dollars a year! These consumer trends are worth watching in 2022

Unconsciously , 2021 is almost over, and there are only 32 days left before we enter 2022. As we all know, this year has not been easy for sellers. In order to cope with the uncertainty of next year, many sellers have begun to make work plans for the new year. Recently, the editor sorted out some consumption trends based on some consumption reports from Jungle Scout to provide sellers with some ideas for product selection in 2022.

The pet supplies market is lucrative, with billions of dollars in annual revenue in the United States

As more and more people like to keep pets, the pet supplies market has become profitable.

In a 2021 consumer trends report from Jungle Scout, it surveyed 1,066 U.S. consumers, of which 786 said they purchased pet products such as cat food and dog toys this year. To put this into perspective, we can assume that approximately 68% of the U.S. population owns a pet.

Even more surprising is that when asked what aspects of their lives are most important, pet owners ranked their pets as their second-most important concern, behind only their family, and ahead of their finances, career, and even their physical and mental health.

Where there is breeding, there will be consumption, so what are their consumption habits and focus?

According to a survey, 70% of people shop online at least once a week, and a quarter of people shop online once a day or more.

Like most U.S. consumers, pet owners are price-sensitive and interested in products with a high number of positive reviews, with more than two-thirds ( 68%) of pet owners looking for the lowest price when shopping online. They are also more interested in technologically advanced shopping methods than the general population, such as using deal-hunting browser extensions (52% of pet owners use these extensions), flexible payment methods, and flexible delivery options such as curbside pickup.

So through which channels do these consumers prefer to search and purchase pet supplies?

According to the survey, pet owners tend to search for products on Amazon, accounting for as high as 76%. The second is search engines such as Google and Bing, accounting for 50%. The third is Walmart, which is only 2 points lower than the search engines. It is reported that three-quarters of American pet owners (75%) are Amazon Prime members, and 50% have Walmart+ membership.

Additionally, social media channels such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok cannot be ignored.

On social media, pets mean business. Pet influencer marketing on social media is a huge industry, with celebrity animals such as cats, dogs, squirrels, turtles and others attracting millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok.

Today’s pet influencers are promoting everything from cat shampoo to turtlenecks for Italian greyhounds .

So what products are worth sellers’ attention?

As the travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic ease, and combined with sales data on Amazon, these products have certain potential.

1. "Calming" supplements for dogs. Anti-anxiety dog ​​chews are in high demand to relieve stress associated with loud noises, separation, and travel .

2. "Smart" toys. Interactive and robotic toys for cats, such as the electric clownfish , sold tens of thousands of units on Amazon last month.

3. High-tech automatic pet feeders. To ensure that their dogs and cats never miss a meal, pet owners are buying automatic feeders in droves.

4. Dog car safety seats. As travel restrictions are lifted, people will choose to travel, and they usually bring their pets with them. In June this year , sales of dog car safety seats on Amazon increased significantly.

5. Cat backpacks. In addition to safety seats, backpacks are another travel solution. On Amazon, a certain cat backpack has been sold more than 3,000 times in a month .

Amazon is the main channel for purchasing gifts, while Walmart is more popular for brands

Although this year's Black Friday and NetEase sales were not ideal, some consumption trends are still worthy of sellers' attention.

So, where will consumers buy gifts in 2021?

The most popular shopping destination this holiday season is Amazon, where 67% of Americans are shopping, followed by Walmart online at 48% and physical Walmart stores at 47%. Of course, large retailers such as Target and Best Buy also took away some traffic.

It’s worth noting, however, that when looking for specific brands, consumers are more willing to buy at Walmart. It’s reported that among consumers who buy gifts, 48% said they search for specific brands (such as "Yankee Candle") on Walmart’s website, while only 38% of shoppers search for brands on Amazon.

Walmart has been a dominant force in the retail industry for many years, and for many Americans it is the go-to destination for their favorite name-brand foods, personal care products, apparel, household goods and more.

So while both retailers carry flagship brands, consumers may assume that Walmart is a sure bet on branded merchandise, while Amazon offers a broader catalog with more new or lesser-known brands to choose from.

Among these holiday gifts, which products are more popular among consumers?

65% of gift shoppers will give items such as toys, clothing, electronics and jewelry to loved ones this holiday season, while 58% will give gift cards.

Here’s a breakdown of the products gift givers purchased:

Virtual products (e.g., Netflix subscriptions, virtual gym memberships): 27%

Homemade or DIY gifts (e.g., crafts, art, or furniture handmade at home): 26%

Subscription box delivery services (e.g., Blue Apron, Beauty Box): 22%

Experiences (e.g., travel arrangements, concert tickets): 19%

This shopping trend can also be seen from the recipients of gifts. According to the survey, the main recipients of gifts are spouses, children and pets.

So where do these shoppers look for shopping inspiration? Social media is a big influence.

While only 16% of U.S. consumers will get gift inspiration from influencers on social channels like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, among these shoppers, sponsored content makes a strong impression: 47% of consumers who get holiday gift ideas from social media will be inspired by an influencer.

Other strong social media-related influences on gift purchases include ads and posts from brand accounts, which influence 51-55% of consumers, depending on whether the shopper follows the brand account. 45% of consumers get ideas from posts on Explore or For You pages, where brands and influencers tend to dominate.

Men shop more than women and are more willing to spend money

Who shops more, men or women?

While the latter is widely believed, a Jungle Scout consumer trends report concludes otherwise.

Jungle Scout survey shows that by 2021, men are more willing to spend money than women.

While most consumers have reduced or maintained their overall spending since 2020 , it is men who are spending more in 2021. The survey shows that in the first quarter of 2021, men outnumbered women among consumers who spent more on channels such as Amazon and Walmart. In addition, while most consumers also plan to reduce or maintain spending in the second quarter, those who expect to spend more tend to be men.

Not only that, but in addition to spending more money, men tend to shop online more frequently than women, shopping on Amazon weekly, or even daily. In contrast, women tend to shop online one to four times a month.

For the most part, spending by men and women across product categories remained stable from the fourth quarter of 2020 to the first quarter of 2021. But it’s worth noting that men bought more discretionary items than women. The categories where men outspent women best indicate that men are more willing or able to make their own purchases during the coronavirus pandemic. For example, men are at least twice as likely as women to buy more electronics, toys and games, and tobacco this year compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.

In terms of where consumers are shopping in 2021, some of the top retailers are favored by both sexes. For example, roughly equal numbers shop online at Amazon and Target and in-store at Walmart and Costco. But more men shop at electronics stores like Apple and Best Buy.

While a large portion of both groups are Amazon Prime members, men outnumber women. The same is true for Walmart+ memberships. 63% of men currently have an Amazon Prime membership, compared to 56% of women. 49% of men are current Walmart+ members, compared to 26% of women.

It’s worth noting that while more women than men use social media and social media influencers are overwhelmingly female , men are more likely to use social channels like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok to search for products.

Overall, men spent more money and shopped online more frequently than women in 2021. This could be due to different reasons, including increased income and experiencing significant lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pet Products

Holiday Gifts