Mancs say these are the best brands of the moment

Manchester-based promotional products retailer 4imprint has revealed the top brands favoured by many.

Researchers polled the nation to discovered the household names that are helping people in Manchester deal with the ups, downs and hardships over the last 12 months.

It’s fair to say that most of us would have been lost without certain brands this year, however, it’s reassuring that some household names stand the test of time and prove popular with so many customers in Manchester and across the UK.

Not only do the findings of the research show that technology brands rank highly during lockdown, but the those from traditional industries also feature despite the doors of retail stores remaining shut.

Which brands are helping people through lockdown?

Netflix has been voted as the number one brand by people living in Manchester, according to the survey commissioned by leading promotional merchandise firm 4imprint.

Mancunians also take Amazon to heart. The retail giant is a runner up to the movie streaming service what with the company keeping deliveries going, supplying everything from home schooling provisions to electronics for the millions of home workers in and around Bath .

Other brands that feature highly in the list of most popular brands include Facebook in third place, followed by WhatsApp, YouTube and Cadbury’s.

TikTok, Marks and Spencer, ASOS and Aldi were also said to have kept our spirits up, as did Instagram, LEGO, Disney+ and Spotify.

It seems there are some pretty inescapable trends and brands that people in Manchester just can’t live without, while many have developed their online shopping habits.

Not surprisingly then, nearly half (48%) of those polled said they spend more money than usual during the periods of lockdown and three quarters (75%) said it really cheered them up when they knew a delivery was on its way.

Brand positioning in a pandemic

According to the report, published by promotional experts 4imprint.co.uk, one in four said they bought from a brand during lockdown and have since become a loyal customer and 23% insist on buying from British brands in order to feel patriotic. Click here to view the list of the best brands.

Of the 1,500 people polled, 42% said they buy from brands that have good sales and offers on, while a quarter said that speed of delivery was important to them when choosing to buy from one company over an another.

According to the study, when shopping online 52% of respondents said that price was the most important thing for them.

A further 40% explained that the brand - in addition to the price they are willing to pay for it - matters the most, suggesting that brand awareness heavily influences buyer behaviour.

Lockdown lessons to learn from the best brands

What has impressed customers in Manchester? Nearly half (47%) of respondents said they felt certain brands have boomed due to their ability to adapt. A strong online presence (44%) and the reliability (36%) of products or services were other reasons cited for success.

It seems that competitive pricing coupled with a strong brand presence has never been more important.

Most popular purchases online

Among some of the most popular purchases people have made this year were clothes (25%) and DIY supplies (13%).

Twenty one percent said simple pleasures like gardening got them through the year and a quarter (25%) said a daily walk really helped.