The first part of the sixth wave of our ongoing weekly study by AMC Global and OpinionRoute was released today. This week’s research focused projected timing for consumers to frequent various venues after COVID-19, once these venues are open and available. (We also looked at alcohol choice and consumption, see more here). We found that consumers will go to businesses in phases. Hair salons and barber shops will be among the first to see their customer base return, whereas consumers are going to wait longer before returning to crowded activities, where social distancing is nearly impossible to uphold such as going to concerts and sporting events.
This week we also specifically asked consumers what their biggest concerns for going back to bars and restaurants might be. Consumers stated that concerns included close proximity to others in these establishments resulting in the inability to appropriately social distance. Some comments regarding this topic included: "Just following social distancing and hoping others will do the same. I am also very concerned with the idea of a second wave." and "That individual businesses don't follow proper sanitation guidelines or set up their seating areas to provide better space to the customers."
Check out the full graphic of the data by clicking the callout below.
Key findings for the week of May 4:
- Sixty-two percent of consumers are planning to visit hair salons and barber shops within one month of restrictions being lifted in the United States.
- Consumers are going to wait longer before returning to crowded activities, such as going to concerts (with only 13% willing to attend within the first month of bans being retracted) and sporting events (16%).
- The study looked at concerns specifically for returning to bars and restaurants. The largest concerns are the proximity to others (or the inability to appropriately social distance) and the additional spread or potential second wave of COVID-19.
A complete representation of the venue frequenting data can be found here. New results and findings will be released on May 14. The study findings are designed to help clients and industry leaders navigate quickly changing consumer behavior during the crisis. Contact us for more information.