Ice cream sales are up, deodorant sales are down as Charlotte stays home during COVID
In the time of COVID-19, a trip to the grocery store can feel like a vacation.
In the early days of quarantine, shelves were bare, toilet paper was in short supply and finding hand sanitizer felt like striking gold. Now, under Phase 2 of North Carolina’s reopening plan, life seems to be resuming — with a few notable differences.
But how far does our “new normal” extend? According to consumer goods company Unilever, all the way into our shopping carts.
Consumers are buying less deodorant and more ice cream, the company stated in a recent report.
Unilever, which owns both Dove and Axe, stated that as consumers are spending more time at home, there is a decreased need to roll on deodorant or antiperspirant. But an increase in ice cream sales from Unilever’s ice cream brands, such as Breyers, Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s, has offset the loss.
So what about Charlotteans?
CharlotteFive did an informal poll and found that in Charlotte, people are definitely buying more ice cream and the same amount or less deodorant than the pre-COVID days.
Of 30 responses, 12 people said they are buying less deodorant, 16 people said they are buying the same amount (some people said purchases are on auto-purchase, and while they are buying the same amount, they are using less). Two people indicated they are buying more deodorant.
For ice cream, 20 people said they are buying more, six said they are buying the same amount. (Is there an auto-purchase for ice cream? Asking for a friend.) Four people said they are buying less ice cream.
“Listen here – first and foremost, can we take a moment to honor Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream?” said Charlottean Rebby Kern. “The vegan dairy free flavors have helped me survive quarantine.”
As for hanging at home with less deodorant? “Most days it takes me until noon (or later) to realize that either I didn’t brush my teeth or I forgot to put on deodorant,” Kern said. “I’m totally cool with my own beautiful funk and with no one around, I seem to care less overall. (Shoutout to Garner’s Garden all-gender natural deodorant – support BIPOC owned businesses).”
So with all this money we are saving on deodorant, what else are we spending it on (besides ice cream, of course)? In our informal poll, a few common denominators stood out: fresh food/groceries, athletic clothes — and lots and lots of plants.
Here are a few more responses:
Shannon Binns, 43, Charlotte
(with answer help from his wife, Crystal Tayara, 42,)
- Deodorant: Same amount
“I am going into my office every day and getting there on my bike so I’m using just as much deodorant as before.” I am the only one going into the office right now, however, and only because I have a 4-year-old at home and no home office.” - Ice cream: Less
“I’ve taken my daughter out for ice cream a couple of times but we have actually cut back on how much we keep at home because she loves it so much and we don’t want the sugar spike right before bedtime.” - What else? More groceries, fewer clothes
“We are buying far more groceries and more local produce as well because we aren’t dining out as much and we aren’t doing delivery much due to the high carbon footprint and single-use disposable containers that the food arrives in. But we are eating at some local restaurants who have safe indoor or outdoor dining to support them. We’ve also cut back on buying clothes.”
Joey Chong, 20, Charlotte
- Deodorant: Less
“If I feel gross, I can just take a shower instead of applying some deodorant.” - Ice Cream: More
“My family has bought so much ice cream since the beginning of social distancing. I think as we’ve been stuck at home, ice cream has served as a nice comfort food.” - What else?: More clothes, less coffee
“I used to go to coffee shops religiously, but lately I’ve been relying on my Keurig.”
Ella Icard, 20, Charlotte
- Deodorant: Less
“I would assume it’s less because I’m going to the drug store less.” - Ice Cream: More
“Probably because it’s the summer and I tend to buy more in the summer but also because it is such a treat and we all need a treat now.” - What else? Fewer clothes, more snacks
“Normally I’d be walking around town and pop into a cute store and buy something but now I’m much more intentional. I’m buying more snacks than I used to since I don’t go out to eat anymore.
Alita Jackson, 41, Charlotte
- Deodorant: Same amount (none).
“I don’t wear deodorant; however, I do shower considerably less.” - Ice Cream: More
“I’m ashamed to say yes. My trips to get a banana split blizzard from Dairy Queen are now a weekly thing.” - What else? More home improvements
“I am basically spending the bulk of my money on home improvements. It gives me something to focus on besides TV and work.”
Rebby Kern, 31, Charlotte
- Deodorant: Less
“Most days it takes me until noon (or later) to realize that either I didn’t brush my teeth or I forgot to put on deodorant. I’m totally cool with my own beautiful funk and with no one around, I seem to care less overall. (Shoutout to Garner’s Garden all-gender natural deodorant – support BIPOC owned businesses).” - Ice Cream: More
“Listen here – first and foremost, can we take a moment to honor Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream? The vegan dairy free flavors have helped me survive quarantine.” - What else?: More fresh food
“With more time to cook at home I’m stocking up on my favorite items for vegan breakfast tacos. In the weeks when I’m not cooking, I acknowledge MuuRaw for the best vegan raw home delivery and SumBucha for fun new flavors and home delivery.”
Tre’ McGriff, Gen X, Charlotte
• Deoderant: Same
“Not deodorant. Anti-perspirant. Big difference. And I always buy double packs to not run out.”
• Ice Cream: Same
“We prefer popsicles.”
• What else? “More fruit, less meat, and with very busy lives, meal prep services have become a staple in our home.”
Corri Smith, 34, Charlotte
- Deodorant: Less
- Ice Cream: More
“I have bought zero deodorant and all the ice cream. I don’t use that much deodorant anyway, so now I hardly have any use for it.” - What else? Fresh foods, groceries online, dog treats, plants, wine, La Croix water
Emiene Wright, 43, Charlotte
- Deodorant: Less
- Ice Cream: Less
“I’m buying less everything because I’m doing less and going out less. Now I want ice cream.” - What else? Fresh food and plants
“I’m definitely buying less processed food because I already hated grocery shopping and now I hate going there even more. But I am buying more fresh produce from the Rosa Parks Farmers Market and other weekly outdoor markets — and more houseplants.”
Cody Zeller, 27, Charlotte
- Deodorant: Same amount
“I’ve bought the same amount of deodorant but I’ll admit that I’ve had to regularly schedule my showers. Usually I just shower at the arena after workouts and (Charlotte Hornets’) games, but during quarantine I’ve forgotten to shower a couple days because I never left my house or worked out that day. Don’t worry — I think 2 days without a shower has been my max.” - Ice Cream: Same amount
“I don’t think I’ve bought more ice cream specifically, but I have experienced a massive spike in my Chick-fil-A visits as well as other small, local carry-out restaurants. I try to rationalize my purchases that I’m just ‘supporting local businesses’.” - What else?: More home improvement
“I think that I’ve spent more time and money at Lowe’s in the past 3 months than I have in my entire life. Plenty of home renovations, lessons learned, and cool new tools.”
Only two people responded that they have been buying more deodorant. “Just because we’re in a pandemic doesn’t mean I want to smell bad,” said Jillian Mueller, who writes for CharlotteFive. “I’m making sure I use deodorant because I’m spending more time outside and it’s so hot. I don’t want people to smell me from six feet away — the masks only do so much.”
Editor’s note: Answers have been edited for length, grammar and punctuation.
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 12:11 PM.
