2017 Retailing Top Trends in Latin America

Economic woes lead consumers to rethink purchasing habits

For most Latin American countries, the last few years have been marked by economic uncertainty. As a result, Latin Americans are seeking the best ways to put their money to good use. Retailers across the region are investing in private label and facilitating payment methods to overcome this challenging scenario.

Traditional grocers losing ground to modern channel

The prevalence of the traditional channel in the region is largely attributable to its long-standing existence. However, this channel is losing ground to modern grocers. In most markets, the revival of this channel will depend largely on the speed with which traditional retailers and governments work together on solutions.

Cross-border e-commerce

Price and brand availability are the two main reasons why cross-border e-commerce is a growing trend in Latin America. The most popular category is apparel and footwear, however preferences vary country by country. Even though cross-border e-commerce is gaining popularity, these types of purchase are still concentrated among the upper middle class.

Mobile: Engagement High, Purchases Still to Come

Smartphone usage is exceptionally high in Latin America compared to other regions as well as the global average. Despite high levels of connectivity and device ownership, however, the relative importance of mobile internet retailing in Latin America continues to lag the global average in every market of the region. Part of this is due to low levels of consumer acceptance of the mobile channel. A second component is that few local retailers offer a strong mobile user experience.