powerchair woman riding

After seeing a dramatic drop off during the lockdown, online searches for terms including ‘mobility aids’, ‘mobility scooter’ and ‘electric wheelchair’ are on the rise as lockdown measures are relaxed.

On Monday the 23rd March, prime minister Boris Johnson announced the UK was to enter lockdown to stop transmission of coronavirus, closing almost all shops and confining the majority of the population to their homes for most of the day.

Reviewing the impact on the popularity of specific search terms on Google, almost all terms relating to mobility products for the sector saw a significant decline throughout March, with most peaking on the week of the lockdown declaration.

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As the UK began to come out of the other side of lockdown, albeit at different paces dependent on the nation, analysis of search terms popularity revealed that more people across the country started to search for mobility aids again.

A key factor was the publication of lockdown exit strategies by the government and devolved governments throughout May and the subsequent easements of key measures, including people being permitted more freedom to spend time outside and travel further afield to beauty spots.

Analysing the search popularity graph for the term ‘mobility aids’, the Google Trend data reveals that as lockdown easements were announced during May, search popularity increased simultaneously.

The Google Trends graphs score the ‘interest over time’ of search terms popularity and are based on the absolute search volume for a term, relative to the number of searches received by Google – a value of 100 signifies peak popularity for the term.

Mobility aids

The same search trends occurred for terms ‘mobility scooter’, ‘electric wheelchair’ and ‘wheelchair’.

Mobility scooter

mobility scooter search graph google

Electric wheelchair

electric wheelchair search graph google

Wheelchair

wheelchair search graph google

The trends for these popular terms suggest that consumers that have not purchased mobility equipment during the traditionally busy spring season could now be on the hunt for products to enjoy the outdoors after months of self-isolation.

It will be welcome news for mobility retailers that have seen low demand for big-ticket items since the lockdown and emphasises the need for retailers to ensure they are ranking high on Google for these search terms.

Interestingly, Google’s search trend data which is collated on a weekly basis running from Sunday to Saturday does not yet account for the government’s shielding relaxation announcement on the 31st May which may also bring about a further boost in demand.

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https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/powerchair-woman-riding.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/powerchair-woman-riding-150x150.jpgCalvin BarnettCoronavirus NewsCOVID-19 Sector NewsCOVID-19 Trade NewsNewsroomReports & ResearchRetailer NewsSector NewsSupplier NewsTrade Newscoronavirus,COVID-19,electric Wheelchair,Google Search,Google Trend,lockdown,Mobility aids,mobility equipment,mobility scooter,relaxation,self-isolation,shieldingAfter seeing a dramatic drop off during the lockdown, online searches for terms including ‘mobility aids’, ‘mobility scooter’ and ‘electric wheelchair’ are on the rise as lockdown measures are relaxed. On Monday the 23rd March, prime minister Boris Johnson announced the UK was to enter lockdown to stop transmission of...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals