Don't touch the Merchandise! Factors associated with consumer preference for contact free shopping

ABSTRACT

The global COVID-19 outbreak has had a wide-ranging impact on people’s lives. This research looks at the recent shift in consumer preferences toward contact-free shopping when purchasing fashion goods. Push–pull–mooring (PPM) theory is used to identify and predict factors that promote or hinder a shift toward contact-free shopping. A survey of young consumers is used to develop and test hypotheses. The findings show that the PPM factors have a significant effect on switching behavior, risk perception, perceived value, and lock-in factors (along with some sub-factors related to each) being significantly related to both intentions to switch to contact-free shopping and actual switching behavior. Theoretical, managerial, and societal implications are discussed in the context of digital wellbeing.