Notes and Thoughts on Grocery 2.0

We love these top ten lists, don’t we? It helps us create context as it relates to what otherwise might be hard to get our arms around. So here is a top 10 list of reasons to use Online Grocery solutions. Over the next few weeks we’ll provide details of each reason. We’ll then summarize at the end. So here’s the list of top 10 reasons to use Online Grocery:

1.) Saves Money
2.) Saves Time
3.) Relevance
4.) Builds Loyalty
5.) Personal Shoppers
6.) Convenience: Pickup or Delivery
7.) Make a List
8.) Email
9.) Relax
10.) It’s Fun!

In the coming weeks, let’s discuss each of these benefits to an Online Grocery solution.

Dave Dec

Thirty-eight percent of shoppers consider grocery shopping a chore, according to a recent study by Nielsen. Add to that the 6% percent who “dislike shopping” and the 3% who “hate shopping” and the percentage of shoppers who’d prefer to skip the store grows to nearly half the shopping population.

With this in mind, the title of Nielsen’s recent blog post, “Survey: Fewer than 10% of U.S. Consumers Dislike Grocery Shopping” does not reflect the huge opportunity to help consumers simplify their lives through online grocery.
Most people would agree that they’d like to eliminate items from their list of “chores” and reclaim that time for themselves!

Some other interesting facts in the article that bolster the case for online grocery:

• Approximately 30 percent of grocery items are purchased on deal These “deals” only count if they are announced efficiently to consumers..through email circulars, mobile marketing, UMA sites…

• Planning is key, with a large percentage of U.S. households using shopping lists (58 percent), store circulars (47 percent) or coupons (37 percent) and comparing prices (50 percent) on most grocery store trips. MyWebGrocer tools help planners find the options that make the most sense for them

We are so excited to learn that two of our partner-retailers, Consentino’s and ShopRite will be honored at the NGA Grocers Awards Reception in February.Progressive Grocer has named ShopRite “Outstanding Regional Retailer” and Consentino’s “Outstanding Community-Based Retailer!”

As the nation prepares to celebrate its 388^th Thanksgiving, shoppers are sticking to traditional fare at the grocery store, according to Vermont-based MyWebGrocer.  Time-honored fare is topping shopping lists across the country, even as shoppers are increasingly planning their menus online or on mobile devices.

“The way people are shopping this Thanksgiving differs from years past. They’re making lists on their iPhones, shopping online circulars, and printing out coupons from home more than ever,” said Rebecca Roose, MyWebGrocer’s Social Media Manager. “But when it comes to the menu, they are sticking with tradition. It’s an interesting convergence of old and new.”

Not surprisingly, turkey tops the list of most sought-after grocery items this month, beating out the typical monthly leader, milk, by 74%. Searches for turkey increased 569% compared to October. Stuffing, that starchy staple so integral to any well-rounded Thanksgiving menu, saw a huge boost in popularity this month, rising 942%, as did yams, which rose 502%.

“Convenience is key for shoppers in the Digital Age,” says Roose. “But don’t mess with the menu! You can plan your Thanksgiving feast online, but be sure you have pumpkin pie on the list!”

The ability to shop for groceries online is life-changing, according to Nicki, a loyal Buehler’s eCommerce customer and die-hard online grocery fan. With two small children to care for, she says she likes to shop for groceries online, once her kids are in bed. Nicki says she shops the weekly sales circular and uses a master list to save time and money.

Hear this busy mom tell us, in her own words, how MyWebGrocer and Buehler’s OGS services help her maintain her sanity! Thanks for the great review, Nicki!