Investments in curbside delivery seem to be paying off

These sales were fueled by Walmart’s large brick-and-mortar footprint and subsequent BOPUS and curbside pickup capabilities. According to omnichannel intelligence company Numerator, 76% of US shoppers preferred Walmart’s curbside pickup, compared with just 14% of respondents who said they preferred to shop in-store.

The company announced in January that its store pickup and “Drive Up” programs grew more than 60% year over year in 2018. With BOPUS and the expansion of similar offerings, big-box retailers will be able to bring in greater revenues over the next two years. Curbside grocery pickup will be a $35 billion business in the US by 2020, according to estimates from research firm Cowen and Company.

I didn’t need to hear from Sherwin-Williams that my neighborhood store would be offering curbside pickup for safety—but I know there are workers in my community who did need that message.

She has instead shifted her content to promote local restaurants that offer takeout and curbside pickup, as well as relief programs for the creative and service industries in Austin. As of last week, Ko said brand partnerships have begun to start up again. Many are also concerned about seeming insensitive to the pandemic.

That was also the most popular choice among respondents who had tried the service, followed by curbside pickup. Fewer respondents had tried methods like trunk delivery or using a locker code, but there was a lot of interest. Nearly three-quarters (74%) said they were interested in getting their orders delivered to the trunks of their cars, and slightly fewer (63%) wanted to try using a locker.

The supermarket has also piloted self-driving grocery delivery vehicles, offers curbside pickup and delivery to roughly 90% of its customers and plans to be at 100% next year—a goal that will likely get a boost from its May partnership with Ocado.

Target acquired Shipt in 2017 to upgrade its same-day delivery capabilities, and its click-and-collect options include curbside pickup. Groceries are available through curbside pickup, though notably it is only for nonperishables. Kroger, the largest national grocery chain, has been extremely proactive with innovation, acquisition and partnerships.

Target’s curbside pickup has been especially popular, and the holidays should take it to the next level. With the shortened holiday calendar, convenience and efficiency is the name of the game, and Target is well-positioned to take advantage amid the crunch. December 2018 data from Rakuten Intelligence highlights the importance of click-and-collect for big-box retailers.

Buy online, pick up in-store is seen as the solution for consumers who don’t want to wait for their package, but according to an OrderDynamics survey, 30.3% of retailers in select countries can confirm an order for pickup—more or less in the same timeframe as standard shipping—in two or more days.

Curbside pickup and click-and-collect options lend themselves quite well to the rather immediate needs associated with groceries and personal care items. Despite Amazon making inroads with Whole Foods Market to address this, consumers are still looking for ease, and not every community has a nearby Whole Foods.

Last year, 81.4% of global consumers reported ordering items online for in-store pickup (up nearly 30% from the year prior) as more consumers are drawn to the service’s convenience and speed.

The rush to ecommerce has also forced retailers to improve distribution and pickup options. Grocery delivery service Instacart alone hired 300,000 workers during lockdowns in March and April. And along with delivery, many retailers honed their curbside and click-and-collect services.