Will it be the pandemic or will it be the will of many municipal administrations to enhance the districts, no longer just the center. The fact is that among citizens the habit of going to small shops near home and the sense of belonging to their neighborhood is growing. The trend emerges from the survey commissioned by American Express to Nielsen, entitled “Neighborhood habits and trends”, Based on 750 interviews with consumers who said they felt more and more part of the local community.
I68% of respondents say they are proud of their neighborhood, especially for the services available and for commercial activities. The role played by the local community changes according to the generations: for the more senior Italians the quality of relationships is increasingly important, while for the younger ones it is the dynamism of the neighborhood that assumes greater importance. looking at the services considered essential for the life of the local community, there are security, local shops, parks and sports centers. As in 2021, the presence of local shops is considered satisfactory by more than half of the sample.
In the last year, 30% also reported an increase in attendance neighborhood shops linked to comfort, but also to a perception of the quality of the products offered and the new outlets discovered. 79% of consumers believe that shopping close to home is more enjoyable than shopping outside the local area and 77% that it can help the local economy.
Il reasonable price” is the most desired feature for choosing a reference point of sale, followed by the quality of the products / services offered and the cleanliness of the premises and the variety of choice.
The popularity of electronic payments is growing. The frequency of use of electronic payment systems is still increasing in the last year. There was a 56% increase in payments via Pos, 53% in contactless mode and 37% in payments via smartphone. The survey also shows that electronic payments for amounts between 5 and 10 euros have been on the rise since last year and are chosen by 78% of consumers. Consumers appreciate the benefits of using electronic payment systems, such as promotions (85%).