NCP Spotlight: Panel Members in Washington

Washington was the 42nd state to join the union on November 11, 1889. Olympia is the state capital and Seattle is its largest city. Washington is bordered by Idaho and Oregon and is the 18th largest state.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of Washington is 7,958,180 (July 2024 est.); it ranks as the 13th most populous state.

Official Washington State Facts and Symbols

Every state has their own unique symbols, from birds to flowers to songs and more! Here are some of Washington’s official state symbols:

Nickname: The Evergreen State
Bird: Goldfinch
Fish: Steelhead Trout
Fruit: Apple
Flower: Coast Rhododendron
Tree: Western Hemlock
Song: Washington, My Home
Motto: “Alki” (By and By)

Fun Facts about Washington State

It’s the only state named after a U.S. president, George Washington.

It’s home to multiple volcanoes, including Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, and Mount Adams.

It produces more apples than any other state in the country.

The majestic 14,410-foot-tall Mount Rainier is the highest point in the state. It became a national park in 1899.

Washington State Ferries, which provides transportation to many of the state’s islands, is the largest ferry operator in the country.

It’s the second largest wine-producing region in the country, boasting more than 1,000 wineries and 60,000+ acres of wine grapes.

Amazon was founded on July 5, 1994 by Jeff Bezos in Bellevue, WA after he relocated from New York City.

Many famous people were born in Washington including Jimi Hendrix, Bill Gates, Bing Crosby, and Adam West.

NCP Panel Members in Washington

Let’s learn about your fellow panel members in Washington! Here’s how our Washington panel members answered some of our state highlight survey questions.

How long have you been a panel member?
42% have been panel members for 15 years or more
9% have been panel members for less than a year

How long have you lived in your current state?
47% of respondents have lived in Washington for over 15 years and 30% their entire life/born there.

Is the area you live rural, suburban, or urban?
28% live in rural areas
53% live in suburban areas
19% live in urban areas

Do you have children?
69% of respondents have children
Of those, 19% have children living in their home

Shopping Habits of NCP Panel Members in Washington

Here’s what our panel members in Washington had to say about their shopping habits:

When asked how they do most of their shopping:

66% of respondents said they do a combo of online and in-store shopping
31% said they shop in-store only
3% said they shop online only

72% of respondents tend to shop at the same stores vs. 28% who said they shop at a variety of stores.

78% of respondents said they mostly stick to a list when shopping, but sometimes make impulse purchases.

68% of respondents said they shop alone, with another 20% shopping with a spouse or partner.

When it comes to choosing where to shop, 62% of the Washington panel members who responded said they primarily shop at grocery stores and 19% at mass merchandise retailers.

Price, convenience, and location were the top factors that influence where they decide to shop. Most of our Washington panel members said they shop once a week for groceries and do most of their shopping on Tuesdays.

About 92% of survey respondents look for ways to save money while shopping, with joining a store’s loyalty program and digital coupons being the most popular options. They also use paper coupons, use the store sales flyer to plan their list, and shop at multiple stores.

Convenience while shopping

Here’s what Washington panel members had to say about different aspects of shopping:
70% never order groceries online to pick up at the store while 21% sometimes do
60% never order groceries online to be delivered, while 30% sometimes do

When asked if weather influenced their choice between online and in-person shopping:
39% said weather doesn’t impact their decision
35% said they prefer in-person shopping regardless of the weather

When asked about self-checkout:
20% said they always use self-checkout
39% indicated they frequently use it
29% of respondents said they rarely use it
12% said they never use it

Interests of NCP panel members in Washington

When asked about the outdoors, 42% said they occasionally participate in outdoor recreational activities. The most popular outdoor activities were hiking/walking (91%), swimming, and cycling. Other popular activities that panel members wrote in were gardening and camping.

When asked which sports or events they follow, the top responses were football and baseball.

We also asked what “type” of place or tourist attraction would they recommend to people visiting their state/hometown. The most popular responses were natural parks and reserves, beaches and coastal areas, outdoor and recreational activities, and restaurants/culinary places and local markets.

When we asked what “specific” place or tourist attraction they would recommend in their state/hometown, here are some of the top recommendations:

Mount Rainier National Park
Mount St. Helen’s Visitors Center
Olympic National Park
Seattle Center/Space Needle
San Juan Islands (by ferry)
Riverfront Park in Spokane

We hope you learned something new about Washington! How do your shopping habits compare to panel members in Washington?

Stay tuned for the next state spotlight on…West Virginia!

Join NCP!

If you’re not a NCP panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog for more information.

Regards,

Taylor

More from NCP:

Click here for all the Spotlight on States blogs.

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