The latest study conducted by Reveal Marketing Research, which analyzes the attitudes and perceptions of Romanians regarding the proposal of small traders to close supermarkets and hypermarkets on weekends, shows that only 3 out of 10 people would agree with the implementation of this regulation.

• 90% of urban Romanians say that they usually shop in supermarkets and hypermarkets.

• 85% of Romanians say that they have heard about the proposal of small traders to close supermarkets and hypermarkets on weekends.

• If the big stores were closed on the weekend, 64% of Romanians would shop during the week, 28% would go to an open store nearby, and 8% would order online.

Brick-and-mortar stores remain Romanians’ favorite for shopping, with 90% of people used to shopping in supermarkets and hypermarkets

According to the results of the latest study conducted by Reveal Marketing Research, brick-and-mortar stores remain Romanians’ favorite when it comes to home shopping.

Thus, 90% of Romanians say that they usually shop in supermarkets and hypermarkets. In the top of consumer preferences, we also find markets (51%) and nearby/intermediate stores (42%).

As a trend, we see that both mature over 55s (66%) and men (56% of men vs. 47% of women) are significantly more likely to shop at the market, an aspect that can be influenced by traditional buying habits and desires buy fresh and local products.

On the other hand, only 14% of Romanians shop online, especially those with a high income of more than 8,000 RON (20%).

Paying attention to the behavior of Romanians who usually shop in supermarkets or hypermarkets, we notice that 36% of them shop when they need products, regardless of the day of the week.

At the same time, 33% of them prefer to shop on weekdays, and 31% – on weekends.

“It is noteworthy that despite the growing popularity of online shopping, supermarkets and hypermarkets remain the main choice for purchasing household goods, offering purchases that are considered the most reliable. The survey data also shows the fact that Romanians like flexibility when it comes to the buying process, with the majority stating that they prefer to shop when they need to, regardless of the day of the week. This need for flexibility and adaptability can be a response to the fast pace of life and diverse needs of consumers, which reflects their desire to manage their time efficiently and have quick access to the products they need,” says Marius Luican, CEO of Reveal Marketing Research.

At the moment, 85% of Romanians state that they have heard about the proposal of small traders to close supermarkets and hypermarkets on weekends or to establish a reduced program until lunch, men are more familiar with this topic (89% of men against 82% of women).

On the other hand, a quarter of 18-24-year-olds (26%) say they haven’t heard of the offer, compared to 15% of the overall sample.

Measuring the perception of Romanians on this issue, 41% rather express their disagreement with this initiative, especially men (45% of men vs. 36% of women) and those with a high income of more than 8,000 RON (45%).

Only 33% of Romanians say they would agree with this initiative, and people aged 35 to 44 (39%) stand out as the most willing to support such a change. At the same time, 26% of respondents are undecided about the initiative, with a much higher share among young people aged 18 to 24 (40%).

How would Romanians act if supermarkets and hypermarkets were closed on weekends?

In a scenario where supermarkets and hypermarkets are closed on weekends, most Romanians say they would adapt and be careful to buy everything they need during the week (64%), especially those over 55 (70%).

28% say they would go to an open store nearby, mostly 18-24 year olds (45%), an age group that recognizes their desire to have immediate access to quick solutions adapted to their active lifestyles.

On the other hand, 8% of Romanians would order online, especially young people aged 25-35 (13%), who are often more familiar with using the Internet and e-commerce platforms.

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