The outbreak of Covid-19 has undoubtedly altered consumer behavior in various aspects, including work, activities during quarantine, and spending habits. Many products have unexpectedly become necessities, even though they may not have been prioritized before.

               TerraBKK has explored the trending products during this time and analyzed the level of interest based on Google search trends to see how people are engaging with various aspects related to the Covid-19 situation. The findings are categorized into six sections as follows:

Cleaning Products Category

Google Trends Search: Cleaning Products

               It is undeniable that “face masks” have become the most essential item during this period. Interest in face masks surged, as seen in the graph that began to rise in January, despite not being a highly sought-after item before (even with the presence of PM2.5 dust). Searches for purchasing, finding online stores, and even methods to make face masks indicate a high demand, leading to shortages and price increases from the usual 2-3 Baht to 15-20 Baht per piece. A box of 50 masks, which normally costs 46 Baht, is now priced between 800-1,200 Baht.

               For hand sanitizers and alcohol, which were previously not in high demand, interest has increased significantly, resulting in price hikes from the usual 30-40 Baht to currently ranging from 50 Baht to over a hundred Baht.

               However, interest in face masks, hand sanitizers, and alcohol has been gradually declining since the announcement of the stay-at-home measures, as many Thais have started making cloth masks themselves, leading to a decrease in searches for face masks. As demand decreases, this may lead to a reduction in prices and make these items available at normal rates again.

Kitchen Equipment Category

Google Trends Search: Kitchen Equipment

               During Covid-19, as everyone is quarantined at home and working remotely, many have begun to explore their cooking skills, turning into makeshift chefs. This has led to an increased interest in kitchen equipment, and if you check online shopping apps, you will find that popular items currently selling well include kitchen tools and appliances, such as electric pans, grills, and various kitchen gadgets.

Long-lasting Food Category

Google Trends Search: Long-lasting Food

               With the extended quarantine and uncertainty about when shopping will be possible again, long-lasting food options have become a choice for those who prefer not to leave their homes. Items like instant noodles, eggs, and canned fish have seen a notable price increase, with eggs rising from about 90-100 Baht per tray to 120-130 Baht currently. Additionally, instant noodles have become one of the first items to run out on convenience store shelves due to their high demand during this quarantine.

Online Work Programs Category

Google Trends Search: Online Work Programs

               Many companies have implemented work-from-home measures, making online meeting tools essential. Interest in online work programs has surged, particularly in video conferencing software, which was not widely adopted by companies before unless absolutely necessary. However, in this situation, these programs have become essential for every company working from home, especially Zoom, which is user-friendly and allows users to change backgrounds, making it very popular. Other programs like Microsoft Teams, Skype, Google Hangouts, and Teamviewer have also seen increased interest during this time.

Entertainment Products Category

Google Trends Search: Gaming Products

               In addition to essential items for daily living, “entertainment products” such as games have also gained immense popularity in the past 1-2 months. Some may have noticed the phenomenon of Nintendo Switch prices skyrocketing faster than gold, with the price for the Nintendo Switch V.2 rising from 12,000-13,000 Baht last year to 22,000-24,000 Baht now. Even second-hand units are priced no lower than 15,000 Baht. This phenomenon is driven by various factors, including increased demand from people staying home with ample time to play, the Animal Crossing Fever boosting Nintendo Switch sales, and the significant factor of Nintendo's factory in Japan temporarily closing due to the Covid-19 crisis. Additionally, Global X research reported that in mid-March this year, the number of gamers increased by over 65% compared to the same period last year, leading to significant growth in the gaming industry during this time.

Movie and Series Streaming Platforms Category

Google Trends Search: Movie and Series Streaming Platforms

               Another activity during the quarantine is watching movies and series. It is evident that interest in Netflix has surged during this time, as Netflix has introduced new monthly packages to meet the growing consumer demand. Additionally, platforms focusing on Korean series, such as VIU, have also seen a steady increase in interest.

               Google Trends data shows a growing interest among people during this time. It is clear that some products we used to buy or use regularly are no longer considered essential or were not highly sought after, but have now become necessities during this crisis. While many businesses have been affected by Covid-19, there are still numerous opportunities for growth in this crisis.

Source: Google Trends