Cocooning behaviour

The tightening economy is causing changes to consumer behaviour. Cocooning is a term to describe the trend towards people socialising less and retreating into their homes.  The term was coined by Faith Popcorn, a future forecaster, in the 1990s to explain the growth in home delivery, home businesses, and home shopping. A staycation was a holiday you took but stayed at home, however, during and after Covid, it came to mean a domestic holiday rather than an international one (this post was originally written in 2011). However, nowadays there are a few more variations that you should know about.

Carcooning

Carcooning is a form of cocooning where it is the car that becomes the place to retreat.  This leads to new behaviours such as dashboard dining.

Staycation

The staycation meant a staying at home vacation instead of a trip away. The idea is that the stay-at-home-vacation is the same as a going-away-vacation except eating out, outdoor activities and relaxing, are done from your home as a base. During Covid it also started to mean a domestic trip rather than international. The UK government did a survey.

Homedulgence

Rather than cutting out indulgences some consumers find equivalent but cheaper alternatives that are home-based. This results in do-it-yourself indulgences such as cocktail parties and inviting guests for lavish dinners rather than going to nightclubs or restaurants.

Caving

Caving describes families who prefer being at home to being elsewhere. This is different to a staycation because it is all year round and is a reduction in spending on external hobbies and recreation.

Hiving

Hiving is different to caving in that it is not social withdrawal but a refocusing of social and worklife to the home. Hiving is a combination of comfort and connection as you engage your friends and acquaintances in your home life.

Enjoy your staycation.