With states beginning to ease restrictions and more businesses coming back online, foot traffic at brick-and-mortar stores will once again pick up. While wearing personal protective equipment will always be a good measure to take, some folks will be extremely hesitant to go back to maneuvering through crowds, seeking out the best days and times to ensure the least amount of encounters with others.
So when exactly is the best day and time to head to the store to grab groceries, medications, and other essential items? Data experts from Zenreach, a digital marketing agency using analytics and mobile location advertising to drive in-store traffic, took a look at consumer behaviors across the country from April 1-May 5 and found that:
• The busiest shopping days overall are Friday and Saturday.
• The least busy days are Tuesday and Sunday.
• Midday—between noon and two o’clock—is the busiest time for shoppers, so try to avoid going to stores during these hours if possible.
• Another spike in foot traffic occurs between 4pm and 6pm, right when people are finishing up the workday.
• The least busy times of day for shoppers are before 9am and after 8pm.
So, for those feeling uneasy about venturing back into the wild, also known as the local corner store, the safest times to go would be in the early morning or later evening hours on Tuesday or Sunday.
