Torn Between Excitement And Fear: open up or close?
There is excitement in the air, Germany is opening up again. Some feel it is to early others are waiting eagerly for normality to return.
New ways to spend money
While participants in the IKM Consumer Community realize they saved money over time during the lockdown, they also became aware of new areas where they spent their money. Changed Lifestyle: A big change is happening in the area of nourishment and food. While eating out has been replaced by home delivery, there is a trend […]
Unexpected full pockets
During the prolonged lockdown, consumer behavior changed slowly and apparently almost unnoticed. While stating that nothing really has changed in their consumption, most of the participants realize that they spent significantly less money over time. Thus, saving doesn’t occur on purpose but it seems related to a change in consumer. 80% say they have spent […]
Vaccination Brings New Hope
Two thirds of the community participants would like to get vaccinated, rather sooner than later. Many are already registered and are expecting to be vaccinated this summer. Some hinge it on the availability of vaccines. Typically, one friends circle has the same opinion. Still there is this other third who is still reluctant and would […]
Carnival 2021 – Crazy on The Safe Side
Carnival for Germans peaks in a long weekend from Thursday to Tuesday and is celebrated in different ways depending on the region. Karneval in the West and Fasching in the South, for example. This year, it was cancelled for the whole of Germany. Another typical German long weekend holiday missed due to Corona lockdown. We […]
Dream or Nightmare: Home Office
The two lockdowns forced many employees to work from home for the first time. home office – what some experience as a blessing is a curse for others. While many fight for extended home office options and a right to work from home in the future, others want to go back to their workplaces rather […]
Exciting Joyful Anticipation for The Small Things
Will the lockdown be loosened or continue for another few weeks. All is still in the air in Germany. Though pleasant anticipation is the best kind of delight. After weeks of lockdown and a year of relinquish, what is most looked forward to? Many participants in our community think they will only slowly get used […]
New routines that will stick
Meanwhile, Germans are experienced “Lock-downers”. New routines have become accepted customs and habits. Individual awareness for distance and safety is constantly increasing. But which of these will continue once the lockdown is lifted? What routines will transform to the New Normal? More Me Time While social distancing forcedpeople to stay at home and figure out […]
Increasing Aggressiveness vs Compliance in Lockdown
For 6 weeks, Germany is in full lockdown again and we observe changing attitudes from understanding to complete denial and frustration. When Germany started the lockdown, there was quite a laid-back acceptance of a situation already experienced earlier in the year. It was the second time around and people knew there was no need to […]
Challenging Corona Christmas Holidays
Christmas of 2020 will most probably be remembered as the “Corona Christmas” and stories be told how different it was and how usual traditions had to be altered or abandoned. While Weihnachtszeit is such a special time in Germany, it was quite different this time around and a lockdown during the holiday season brought many […]