LANDLINE phones, sending letters and Scrabble have made a return as the nation adapts to living in lockdown.
And sales of hair clippers, fitness equipment, sewing machines, board games and tracksuits have spiked as barbers and gyms remain closed and we are confined to our homes.
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As mobile phone networks struggled in the early days of lockdown, Brits turned to more reliable landline devices, with sales of these rising 80 per cent.
Sales of games and puzzles were up 240 per cent compared with March 2019, largely thanks to classic board games including Scrabble, Cluedo and Monopoly.
And twice the usual number of stamps were bought as we sent more handwritten letters and cards to loved ones.
Since lockdown was enforced on March 24, our day-to-day lives have been transformed.
For many it means working from home, while others have more time on their hands.
For parents, it involves the tough task of both home-schooling and entertaining children.
A joint report from John Lewis and Waitrose on our shopping habits in the last six weeks shows we are sewing and drinking more.
Here the two retailers lift the lid on our lockdown habits week by week.
Key trends in lockdown
HOMEMADE ‘HAPPY HOUR’: People recreating bar experiences at home and trying new cocktails.
RETURN OF THE HOBBY: Embracing nostalgic and traditional pastimes such as sewing, crafting, knitting, gardening and baking.
DIY BEAUTY SALONS: Demand for laser hair removal products, manicure sets, face masks and massagers as the nation recreates beauty treatments at home.
Week 1: Mar 15-21
WITH a partial lockdown in place, panic-buying peaks as shoppers send sales of toilet rolls, baked beans and soup surging at Waitrose.
The food chain sees three times the usual level of pasta snapped up.
At John Lewis, freezers, laptops and landline phones are selling more than normal.
Week 2: Mar 22-28
FULL lockdown begins and shoppers buy more groceries.
Waitrose introduces social-distancing measures.
More shoppers look for online grocery delivery slots. Many use them for the first time.
Paracetamol and anti-bacterial wipes sell out.
Closure of schools sees sales of puzzles, crafting kits, Lego and swing ball sets soar.
Week 3: Mar 29-Apr 4
PASTA machines, baking gear and food processors are on the up as we cook more – and following the lack of pasta on store shelves.
Shopping on johnlewis.com is spread out between 8am and 8pm as the lack of commute means buys are spread through the day. A slight dip comes at 5pm as people watch the Government’s daily briefing.
Week 4: Apr 5-11
SEARCHES for toys and books on johnlewis.com start to spike at 8.30pm as parents look for ways to keep children entertained.
Plus, gardening tools start to shift as the bright weather shines.
Sales of stamps double – and they continue to sell more during lockdown – as people begin sending letters to friends, family and loved ones who they can not visit.
Week 5: Apr 12-18
HAIR trimmer sales are up four-fold as the lack of barbers hits home. With beauty salons also closed, sales of hair-removal products for women are up eight-fold.
Full-trolley shops are up 56per cent at Waitrose compared with the same week last year.
By contrast, single-meal shops are down by more than 70 per cent.
Week 6: Apr 19-25
SALES of popular panic-buys such as loo roll and pasta are down.
But with most family members no longer grabbing lunch at work or school, food orders at waitrose.com contain 49 per cent more items on average.
Parents-to-be continue to stock up on essentials for new arrivals, hot on the heels of the birth of PM Boris Johnson’s son Wilfred.
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