Amazon: Consumers are leaving the house, but staying in sweats
Newly updated U.S. shopping data from Amazon indicates consumers are resuming social activities halted during COVID-19, but staying comfy.
According to Amazon’s latest list of top-selling items in the U.S. in 2021, purchases of dresses and tuxedos have tripled in the last year, luggage sales are up 460%, and teeth-whitening toothpaste sales are climbing.
In 2020, sales soared for at-home items such as puzzles, garden tools, cookware, headphones, and exercise bikes. However, purchases of sweats, leggings, and other athleisure products spiked in 2020, and sales remain strong.
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Here is a more comprehensive overview of the latest Amazon shopping trends recorded for 2021:
• Sales of sweats are up by more than 60%, while jewelry sales nearly tripled year-over-year as of March and April 2021 In March and April 2021, athleisure category sales increased by more than 50% year-over-year, with top categories including athletic bottoms (more than a 40% increase), athletic tops (more than a 45% increase), and leggings (more than a 90% increase).
• Amazon Wedding Registry gift giving has more than doubled this year compared to 2020. Event and party supply sales more than doubled year-over-year as of April 2021, with tableware and party decorations among the top-selling product categories.
• Outdoor furniture sales nearly doubled year-over-year as of the first quarter of 2021, with trending topics including lounge and deep seating chairs and outside dining and bar tables. Grilling product sales are up 70% year-over-year in the first quarter.
• Skirts, dresses, dress shirts, suits, and tuxedo sales have more than tripled in March and April 2021, compared to the same months in 2020.
• Sales of toothpaste, whiteners, and mouthwash are up 66% in April 2021 compared to January 2020.
• Premium lipsticks increased by more than 58% year-over-year as of April 2021.
• Curling irons are up 30% year-over-year.
• Subscribe & save sales for skin care products increased by more than 38% year-over-year as of April 2021.
• Swimwear sales have more than doubled year-over-year as of March and April 2021, and sunscreen and bronzers sales increased by 70% year-over-year as of April 2021.
• Cases for consumer electronics are up 86% year-over-year as of April 2021.
• Outdoor living and camping product sales increased by more than 130% year over year as of April 2021.
• Athletic sports apparel sales increased by more than 40% year-over-year as of March and April 2021.
• Cargo management, exterior accessories, and recreational vehicle care sales more than doubled year-over-year as of April 2021.
Amazon also highlighted a few key 2020 shopping trends:
• Arts and crafts items more than doubled in sales, while puzzle sales were up 75% and building blocks were up 70% from April to June 2020, compared to the same three-month period in 2019.
• Laptop computer sales doubled from April 2019 to April 2020. Other top consumer electronics products included headphones (more than 50% increase from 2019), ink (90% increase), headsets (more than 130% increase), and gaming monitors (150% increase).
• Home office desk sales more than doubled in the second quarter of 2020 compared to 2019. Chair sales were up more than 135% year over year, with gaming chairs and Amazon Basics office chairs among the most popular. Sales in the shelves and storage category increased by more than 155%.
• Exercise and fitness product sales increased by nearly 75% in the first three months of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, with top process across weights, exercise bikes, and treadmill categories.
• Gardening product sales increased by 50% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2020.
• Cookware, cooking tools, bakeware, and kitchen storage product sales more than doubled year-over-year in the second quarter of 2020.