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74% of Consumers Rank Product Availability as #1 Shopping Priority, Survey

Retailers are missing what matters most to today’s shoppers.

Published: Aug 11, 2025 8:17 PM

By Jeanel Alvarado

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74% of Consumers Rank Product Availability as #1 Shopping Priority, Survey

Retailers are missing what matters most to today’s shoppers. A new consumer study from SPAR Group, Inc. reveals major changes in shopping behavior, spotlighting the critical importance of product availability and heightened concerns about tariffs and technology in today’s brick-and-mortar retail world.

Product Availability Is King According to the 2025 SPAR Consumer Survey, which surveyed more than 1,000 consumers between ages 18 and 64, product availability tops the list of priorities for shoppers considering where to buy.

An impressive 74% said it’s the most important factor, and 73% see out-of-stocks as the main deterrent to a good in-store experience. Mike Matacunas, President and CEO of SPAR Group, Inc., shared, “The first rule of retail is that empty is always wrong.

After decades of investment, inventory in-stock, plan-o-gram compliance, and optimal replenishment remain elusive.” He went on, “Retailers and brands pay for data based on point-of-sale transactions as a proxy to monitor inventory velocity, but this information is too late to make a difference.

It’s like driving your car, looking in the rear-view mirror.” This reality brings significant consequences for retailers…

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74% of Consumers Rank Product Availability as #1 Shopping Priority, Survey

Retailers are missing what matters most to today’s shoppers.

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