Survey: 64% of Uzbeks to Spend Up to 2 Million Soums on Summer Goods

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The majority of residents in Uzbekistan plan to spend no more than 2 million soums on summer purchases, according to the results of a consumer behavior study conducted by the Wildberries Research Center.

The study indicates that 64% of respondents intend to spend up to 2 million soums on goods for themselves between June and August. An additional 23% are ready to spend between 2 and 4 million soums, while 13% expect their expenses to exceed 4 million soums.

With the arrival of summer, 43% of those surveyed plan to spend their free time in their own city, 29% intend to dedicate the summer months to work, 25% are going on vacation or traveling to another city or country, 24% will spend time in nature more frequently, and 12% will spend time at their country houses. Among those planning travels, beach holidays remain the most popular choice, selected by 59% of respondents. Another 50% prefer traveling to new cities and countries to experience their culture and sights.

The majority of survey participants have already begun preparing for the summer season, with 63% having purchased the necessary items. Meanwhile, 36% make their purchases a few days or a week before a trip, while 20% begin preparing a few weeks in advance, and another 20% start a month or more ahead. An additional 13% prefer to purchase required items directly at their holiday destination, while 14% do not buy any special goods for travel.

Online marketplaces have become the primary channel for summer shopping, utilized by 77% of those surveyed. This is followed by markets and fairs at 36%, supermarkets and convenience stores at 33%, hypermarkets at 18%, websites of offline stores at 15%, and specialized sports and travel stores as well as online delivery services at 11% each. Furthermore, 8% purchase goods in electronics stores, and 3% buy items at retail outlets in airports and train stations.

Most frequently, residents of Uzbekistan purchase clothing and footwear (45%), sunglasses (31%), sunscreen and beach accessories (30% each), and summer headwear (24%) for the summer season. Among planned purchases, seasonal clothing and footwear lead at 39%, followed by swimwear and beach goods at 25%, and sunscreen at 23%. At the same time, 22% of respondents reported that they do not intend to buy special items for their holiday.

During trips, consumers most frequently buy food and drinks (44%), souvenirs and local goods (30%), personal hygiene products (16%), disposable tableware and napkins (15%), first-aid kit items (14%), and sunscreen (11%).

Despite the popularity of online commerce, the majority of Uzbekistan residents still prefer to shop in offline stores while on vacation. Specifically, 27% visit shopping centers or hypermarkets, 26% shop at the nearest stores, and 18% visit local markets. Nonetheless, 18% are willing to place an order on a marketplace for delivery to the nearest pick-up point, while 5% use courier delivery and another 5% use the websites of traditional stores.

The study also showed that 40% of Uzbekistan residents have already ordered goods with delivery to their vacation spot at least once, including 35% who did so through Wildberries. Meanwhile, 40% of those surveyed do not place orders during their vacation, 34% prefer to receive their purchases at their usual pick-up point after returning home, 20% choose a pick-up point near their vacation spot, 5% use courier delivery, and 2% use automated parcel lockers.