A new study of shoppers undertaken by Monash University indicated 59 per cent of total non-grocery consumer spend was made in physical stores in the six months from December 2019 to May 2020.

Retail websites were the second most common way of consumer spend with 15 per cent, while online-only retailers and online marketplaces grew in market share.

With some local stores forced to shut shop during lock-down, Griffith's businesses saw an uptick in stores moving online.

Peter Pan Kidz along Banna Avenue went online and sold items across the nation while Hip Digs also indicated an online store helped bring the shopping experience into the home.

Co-owner of 3C Tech Shop Anthony Salmon said their store created a digital shop for the first time as coronavirus restrictions started to take place.

"We've got a very busy store here and we were very fearful they were going to shut us down when COVID hit so the only real choice we had was to get online," Mr Salmon said.

"As it turned out they didn't shut us down but we had more people coming through our store after the lock-down was announced then prior.

"Even now though the online store is growing all the time we are getting more trade but we would get calls almost daily - 'I see it online, I just want to make sure have you got it in stock' ... they still don't want to purchase online, they would still rather walk into the store, talk to someone, look at it, feel it and then buy it."

Mr Salmon said in the initial phase of the digital store's operation, most purchases were made locally, but as lock-down restrictions lifted, the majority of online purchases are now being made by consumers in the wider MIA in locations such as Hillston, Leeton and Narrandera.

READ MORE

He said the store is planning to expand their services online in the next month, as they look to plan for an increased demand in digital sales over the coming years.

"We're definitely in the process of expanding it," Mr Salmon said.

"We're about to bring on some other segments - we put the major sellers online but there's a whole lot more in the store we haven't brought online yet that we will be bringing online probably within the next three or four weeks.

"Our main demographic right now is your mums' and dads' who've got school kids ... if we're not a fully online business in the next few years that younger generation coming through - they don't want to be coming in here [to buy items]."

Dr Eloise Zoppos from Monash University's Australian Consumer and Retail Studies unit said online channels are expected to see a further increase over the next six months due to COVID-19.

"Many shoppers used online shopping channels like marketplaces for the first time during the shutdown, when physical stores were no longer open," Dr Zoppos said.

"It was surprising to see - especially during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic - that people still visited and trusted physical stores for non-grocery related purchases.

"That should give retailers of all sizes confidence that people still value a personalised shopping experience."

According to data released in the report, 49 per cent of consumers surveyed said they would continue to shop at physical stores for non-grocery purchases in the next six months, while 23 per cent said they are intending to use physical stores less.