10 Industries Thriving During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Last Tuesday, the 21st of April, marked 90 days since the CDC reported the first confirmed Coronavirus case in the United States.

Our world has changed so significantly since that date. We’re inundated with negativity everyday. Though some have seen business grow during this time. For a lot of Americans, more time at home has led to more time online. According to Kargo, there has been a 24% increase in web traffic in the past month alone. E-commerce focused websites such as Amazon, Walmart, Instacart, Kroger, Shipt have seen shopping orders increase by 67%.

So what industries are succeeding during this global pandemic? We turned to Google Trends and Exploding Topics to give us an idea.

Top 10 Coronavirus Niches

 

1. 1. DIY

      Most Americans are still under a shelter-in-place order with non-essential services shutdown. So people are getting resourceful and going to the internet to learn these skills themselves. How to… and Do it Yourself searches have skyrocketed during the pandemic leading towards an increase in many online purchases and YouTube views. Cutting your own hair is just one example.

      1. • How To…
         • Do it Yourself
         • Cut Your Hair
         • Hair Cutting Shears

       

   2. Meal Delivery

      From restaurants to grocery stores, Americans are leaning on delivery services to bring their essentials to them. Though search volume has come down a bit since mid March’s spike, home delivery is an industry that is thriving now and will continue long after this pandemic subsides. Even our pets our getting into the delivery craze via the Florida based company Chewy’s spike in search volume.

      1. • GrubHub
         • Uber Eats
         • DoorDash 
         • Instacart
         • Chewy’s
         • Rappi

       

   3. Workout Equipment

      No gym; no problem. People are searching for unique ways to workout from home and the at home workout sector is profiting off of it. Ranging from established brands like Peloton to startup apps such as Zwift the indoor cycling app, Americans are finding new ways to exercise from home.

      1. • At Home Workout
         • Yoga Mat
         • Peloton
         • Zwift
         • High Intensity Interval Training
         • Garage gym

       

   4. Outdoor Activities

      Wait, if people are quarantined in their homes how could the outdoor activities industry be thriving? The short answer, not everyone is sticking to quarantine rules. But beyond that, smart outdoor retail marketers are using this time to build excitement on new product releases. Leaning into our collective communities, marketers are connecting with their core bases and building anticipation for the time when we all return to our sport and do it with the best equipment. Search volume shows that people are itching to get started – open facilities and trails near me have both spiked.

      1. • Hiking Trails Near Me
         • Golf Courses Open

       

   5. Face Covers

      This one might be a bit too on the nose but still worth sharing. Since the CDC recommended Americans use some type of face cover before going out in public, American searches have exploded. What is really interesting however is the Google Breakout associated with face mask searches. The DIY trend continues here as well as Disney, NFL, and major Universities finding ways to retail their brand with a possible new fashion trend that no one saw before now.

      1. • Bandana 
         • Face Mask

       

   6. Immunity Boosters

      Americans are going to the internet for gummies, pills, really anything to preemptively boost their immunity. Tried and true methods such as vitamin C have seen significant increases as well as products to possibly avoid such as Elderberry. Regardless, the online health and nutrition industry are driving a lot of business right now.

      1. • Vitamin C 
         • Emergen-C
         • Zinc
         • Elderberry

   7. Antibacterial

      In the same vein as immunity boosters, searches for antibacterial products has gone through the roof since the Coronavirus pandemic came to our country. From antibacterial products, to monitoring devices such as Oximeters and natural remedies such as Irish Moss.

      1. • Antibacterial
         • Irish Moss
         • Oximeter

       

   8. Fun at Home

      Americans are going to the internet to find out what to do with bored kids stuck at home. Google searches illustrate increases in home games, crafts, and even VR technology to take us to zoos and museums while stuck in the living room. And of course, no family night is complete without the latest Tik Tok dance craze! But to do it right, you need that perfect lighting!

      1. • Virtual Tour (Zoos / Museums)
         • Jigsaw Puzzles
         • Diamond Painting
         • Tik Tok Lighting

       

   9. Continued Education / Work from Home

      With so many Americans furloughed or on unemployment, new skills are at a premium. Masterclass and Skillshare focus on online education in a range of different skills. And for those working from home, Google shows a surge in home office purchases and apps to replace office life such as Docusign.

      1. • Masterclass
         • Skillshare
         • Blue Yeti Microphone
         • Docusign

       

   10. Home Improvement + Cooking

       No restaurants has led some culinary-impaired folks to start trying it out at home. And when we’re out of the kitchen we don’t have anymore excuses to put off that home project that has been sitting around for months. So home improvement stores and recipe searches have spiked.

       1. • Recipe
          • Bread recipes
          • Home Depot
          • Lowe’s

        

What do you think of our list? What industries and niches did we miss? Which trends do you think will continue beyond social distancing? Let us know in the comments.

 

 

Post Script

As a content marketer, it occasionally feels trivial to write yet another list blog considering what is going on right now. Our nation, and the world at large, is dealing with the most adversity it’s seen in more than a generation.

In times like this however, I, and the team here at MWI, feel the world could use a little more hope. And if creating content that informs and forces readers to think a little differently, then it’s worth that time investment. So we’re going to keep creating, keep optimizing, and keep informing with the hope that day by day, little by little, our days become a bit more regular.