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.
Matacunas also pointed out, “This shopper study brings attention to the impact of distorted inventory – disappointed consumers, lost sales, lower margins.” Technology: Opportunity and Apprehension Retailers are leaning into technology to help solve inventory and efficiency issues, but shoppers are cautious.
The survey reveals that 71% of customers feel uncomfortable or unsure about roaming robots in stores, with women feeling more uneasy than men. However, younger shoppers (18-54) are more open to such technological advancements. Matacunas explained the retailer perspective, “Digital shelf monitoring is a growing market.
Retailers are testing roving robots, stationary cameras, and on-shelf moving field cameras. These promise to capture inventory information to improve plan-o-gram compliance, in-stock integrity, and velocity data.” He emphasized, “Consumers don’t want technology to interfere with the shopping experience…
Discussion
0 Comments
No comments yet
Start the conversation
Share your take on this story and help shape the discussion.
Sign in to join the discussion.