A new survey finds one subset of shoppers — those on vacation — have naturally been "buying local" well before it became trendy. And many are now tapping their mobile devices to find those local joints.
The survey from Placeable, a provider of location marketing technology, found that 65 percent of travelers seek restaurants and retail stores within five miles of their current location while on vacation. Seventy-six percent report that they search for local retailers rather than a national retailer and 89 percent look for local restaurants rather than a national one while they are away from home. Fifty-four percent postpone researching restaurants until they are already on vacation.
Half would visit the closest retailer to replace an item they forgot to pack, regardless of the store. Only one percent of vacationers consider reviews when looking to replace a forgotten item.
Over 85 percent searched for restaurants and retailers on their mobile devices while on vacation.
In a statement, Ari Kaufman, CEO of Placeable, says the findings show national retailers need to "optimize themselves locally to capture vacationers searching for non-brand products, services and places."
Past surveys have shown how avid vacationing shoppers can be — and not just for tourist trinkets:
- A survey from the Travel Industry Association of America found that the majority of vacationers (51 percent) rated shopping as the first or second reason they made at least one leisure trip a year. The largest segment shop for apparel or shoes (77 percent), followed by souvenirs (49 percent), books and music (42 percent) or jewelry (36 percent). Men spent $349 a trip versus $319 for women.
- An Orbitz survey found that 51 percent of travelers have done their holiday shopping while vacationing. For 73 percent leisure travelers, shopping is as important, or more important, than nightlife when planning a vacation. Forty-nine percent of survey respondents admitted to purposefully leaving room in their suitcase to bring back purchases made while traveling.
- Placeable Study Finds Vacationers Are Mobile and Prefer Proximity Over Brand When Searching At Time of Need - Placeable
- Missed Connection: Why National Brands Must Adapt to Changing Traveler Behavior - Placeable
- Americans Confess To Pre-Meditated Shopping While On Vacation - Orbitz
- Turning vacationers into mall shoppers - St. Petersburg Times
- Study Released Examining the Correlation Between Cultural Tourism and Shopping - Taubman
- Americans Confess To Pre-Meditated Shopping While On Vacation - Orbitz