Although the restrictions imposed by the pandemic have been relaxed, consumers continue to show signs of mistrust in the current situation, behavior that could put pressure downward on spending on products and services considered to be discretionary.
In 2020, when the effects of the pandemic that caused the spread of covid-19 began to become evident, it was anticipated that consumer habits would change, since in a complicated economic scenario full of uncertainty, people would be more careful when spending.
Designing or adapting properties to be of mixed use, offering more entertainment options and mixing in an adequate way the type of tenants to whom the premises will be rented, are strategies that could give a new boost to shopping centers.
The pandemic drove consumers away from shopping centers, as government home quarantines in the region, the rise of e-commerce, and bans on people from visiting these facilities significantly affected mall operations.
During the last months of 2020 in the countries of Central America, the volume of searches and conversations on the Internet associated with anti-viruses decreased, a decrease that can be explained by the behavior of all the markets in the region.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
In the new business reality, most Central American consumers have borrowed more than usual, spent less on snacks and personal care items, and migrated to cheaper brands than they used to before the pandemic.
Central America faced a severe economic crisis during 2020, which stemmed from the global covid-19 outbreak. The restrictions imposed by governments resulted in the rise of a new commercial reality, in which people changed their consumption patterns.
The use of unique codes that can be scanned with a mobile device, so that consumers know all the product information and companies interact with their customers, are part of the innovations that some packages already have.
Currently, consumer interest in products that are manufactured with environmental and social responsibility has grown. More and more customers want to have more details about the production processes and the origin of the goods.
In this context of pandemic and mobility restrictions, the number of Internet searches associated with scooters and mopeds increased significantly in most Central American markets.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
Because more than half of consumers born between 1996 and 2012, known as "Generation Z" or "Centennials", are immune to traditional advertising and television, brands and companies should focus on communicating with this group through digital channels, such as social networks and influencers.
Positioning a brand, product or service is currently a challenge for advertising agencies and companies, as they must overcome the challenge of communicating effectively with younger consumers.
Between July and October 2020, the number of people in Guatemala who were exploring online options for buying party supplies increased 19%, while the number of Costa Rican consumers seeking to hire a social event planning service fell 35%.
CentralAmericaData's interactive platform, Consumer Insights, monitors in real time changes in consumer habits in all markets in the region and in other Latin American countries, with fundamental information to understand their behavior, new trends and anticipate eventual changes in their purchasing patterns.
World Gym, which in El Salvador is located in Antiguo Cuscatlan, has a potential market of 266,000 consumers 15 minutes away by car, of which 13% are interested in yoga and 12% in weight training.
Using the Geomarketing solutions that we have developed for our clients, CentralAmericaData's Trade Intelligence team analyzed the environment of some of the main locations of the fitness centers, which operate in the countries of Central America. Below is an extract of the study's findings.
Surf, Downy and Tide are some of the brands with the greatest presence in the searches and conversations on the Internet and social networks associated with these cleaning products, carried out by Central American consumers with high purchasing power.
An analysis of consumer interests and preferences in Central America, prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, shows interesting results on people's preferences and tastes for detergents, fabric softeners and other cleaning products.
In the current context of pandemic and changing habits, consumers are beginning to prefer fresh foods over packaged or processed foods, driven by the search for health and immune system benefits.
The covid-19 outbreak led to changes in people's behavior and significant changes in consumption habits, which are reflected in the food product market.
Between July and October 2020, the number of people in Guatemala exploring options for buying barbecue grills online increased by 51%, while the number of Costa Rican consumers looking to buy garden furniture grew by 39%.
CentralAmericaData's interactive platform, Consumer Insights, monitors in real time changes in consumer habits in all markets in the region and in other Latin American countries, with fundamental information to understand their behavior, new trends and anticipate eventual changes in their purchasing patterns.
Food, beverages, liquor, household and personal care items are the categories that are expected to drive the rise in consumption levels in Central America during the last month of the year.
Despite the fact that 2020 has been a complex year for all business sectors, due to the covid-19 outbreak that generated a serious economic crisis in all Central American countries, sales are expected to increase considerably in December.
Between July and October 2020, the number of people in Panama looking for rental homes grew 56%, while in Guatemala, the number of people exploring options for renting a home fell 37%.
CentralAmericaData's interactive platform, Consumer Insights, monitors in real time changes in consumer habits in all markets in the region and in other Latin American countries, with key data to understand their behavior, new trends and anticipate eventual changes in their purchasing patterns.
Since the health crisis began and restrictions on mobility were decreed, the number of Internet searches associated with toys increased considerably in all Central American markets, a rise that continued until early November.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.