The pandemic caused many things to change in almost every industry. With consumer trends shifting, some products became popular during the lockdown. Here are products that became popular while we were all stuck inside.
1. Toilet Paper
It’s hard to think back to how things were at the start of the pandemic, but one thing we all remember is walking into our local grocery stores and finding no toilet paper. At the start of the pandemic, many people panicked and bought up all the toilet paper they could find because they knew they’d be spending more time at home.
While toilet paper should be the one thing you never run out of, you should never panic purchase more than you think you’ll need. Luckily, the toilet paper has come back to shelves, and you can now purchase it almost anywhere. However, many people still purchase more toilet paper now than they did before the pandemic.
2. Hand Sanitizer
If the pandemic reminded us of anything, it’s that germs are everywhere. Many essential workers didn’t get to stay home with their families during the lockdown. Instead, they had to be out in the world working with other people and serving their community.
Hand sanitizer sales increased exponentially during the pandemic because it’s the most efficient way to keep germs off your hands without running to the bathroom every ten minutes.
3. Cleaning Sprays and Wipes
Even though many people have returned to work, they probably have a few sanitizing wipes on their desks that allow them to keep their workspace a germ-free zone.
Unfortunately, cleaning wipes and sprays were hard to come by during the pandemic and were bought up just as quickly as toilet paper. Luckily, just like toilet paper, cleaning sprays and wipes are back.
4. Hand Soap
We’re hoping that hand soaps have always been popular in your house. However, during the pandemic, hand soap became even more of a necessity. As a result, many businesses shut down their operations to help make sanitizer and hand soap so more people could regularly wash their hands.
5. Thermometers
While every household should have at least one thermometer, many don’t. During the pandemic, everyone thought that sneezing or coughing meant they had COVID-19. However, that wasn’t always the case. Nonetheless, more people bought thermometers so they could monitor their temperature and catch any signs of illness before it became more serious.
6. Board Games and Puzzles
We all have something at home that keeps us entertained, but during the pandemic, what we had just didn’t cut it. Many people were left with eight more hours of free time and the inability to go out and do something to kill time.
Board games and puzzles became the go-to for families who needed something to entertain the entire family without spending a lot of money.
7. Cooking Utensils and Bakeware
The pandemic forced people to find hobbies and stop eating out so much for fear of germs. With more people cooking for themselves and finding cooking and baking to be an enjoyable hobby, products associated with cooking and baking became more popular.
8. Fitness Equipment
Lockdown gave everyone a chance to take care of themselves since they had more free time, which allowed many people to get back into shape. In addition, fitness equipment, from yoga mats to ellipticals, became popular for those who couldn’t go to the gym or simply didn’t want to.
9. Loungewear
There’s no reason to get dressed up when you have nowhere to be, so you might as well be comfortable. With most people out of work, unable to work, or having nowhere to go, loungewear became the new clothing of choice.
Loungewear even evolved during the pandemic. Instead of your regular sweat pants and a t-shirt, many companies started making loungewear that appeared more professional for your daily video calls.
10. Comfort Products
During the pandemic, all we wanted to do was be comfortable. Although many people spent most of the day watching TV on the couch, comfort products extended into the bedroom.
Sleep also became a priority. Many people who worked long hours finally got caught up on the sleep they needed and may have found that their pillows or mattress weren’t up to par. Luckily, comfort products like therapeutic body pillows were able to help those individuals sleep better during a stressful time.
11. Home Office Products
While many people were able to get a break from work, others still had to work but were able to work from home instead of going into the office. With more people working from home than ever before during the pandemic, many were forced to purchase better home office products, including desks, laptops, desktops, and office chairs.
12. Pet Supplies
Many people were feeling lonely during the pandemic and decided to get a pet, which means they had to purchase pet supplies. Not only that, but people who already had pets were able to spend even more time with their animals and wanted to spend more money on them as well.
Like toilet paper during the pandemic, many people stocked up on pet food to ensure their dogs, cats, and other pets would never go without a proper meal.
13. Fake Eyelashes
Working from home came with a set of challenges for office workers, but one of the worst offenders may be Zoom. Most employees were expected to show up for a morning Zoom meeting Monday through Friday, which allowed them to get a close look at their faces in the camera.
Your home lighting may not be as flattering as you thought, or your camera might not be as high-quality as you thought, but either way, many people started noticing they didn’t like the appearance of their faces on camera.
Many women decided they should enhance their looks with fake eyelashes that were able to make it look like they were more awake without actually feeling more awake. Eyelashes pop on camera and require only a few minutes of work in the morning, making them perfect for Zoom.
14. Face Masks
This one is a little more obvious than the rest. Face masks obviously aren’t new; your doctors and nurses have worn them before. However, face mask sales rose during the pandemic after the CDC recommended everyone to wear them and they became required in places of business. Luckily, many companies started making face masks that were comfortable and designed so you could match them to your outfit.
The products on our list have been around for a long time, but the pandemic made them even more popular. Items like loungewear, fake eyelashes, and face masks are sure to remain part of our everyday lives.
