Last year, COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on social distancing hit brick-and-mortar stores hard. In response many retailers did a quick – and highly successful – pivot to e-commerce. Now, customers are starved for experiences and want more than the online shopping experience. How can retailers deliver on this with brick-and-mortar shopping, sustain the in-person enthusiasm, and provide a seamless omnichannel experience?
Simon CEO Says Americans Are Experiencing ‘Euphoria’ as They Return to Malls
After over a year of the pandemic, David Simon, CEO of Simon Property Group, said that some retail locations are returning to normalcy, while others still need to catch up. With more customers returning to brick-and-mortar shopping, there is a new sense of excitement. “I’d say we generally feel pretty good and much better than we felt, you know, in a long time,” he said.
Read the full story here.
The Pandemic Destroyed Brick‑and‑Mortar. Now It’s Bringing Stores Back
The National Retail Federation anticipates that retail sales will grow up to 8.2 percent in 2021, reaching more than $4.33 trillion. Barry Fiske, Senior Vice President of Global Experience, and Innovation at LiveArea commented that these returning customers are going to be different than the shoppers pre-pandemic. With a year of predominately shopping online, returning in store customers are going to have a different set of expectations than before.
Read the full story here.
How Can Retailers Engage the Pampered Consumer who Demands Uniqueness?
Since customers have had to turn to e-commerce over the past year, “ they are expecting that brands know everything they experience as part of their path to purchase journey – from what they searched for, to who they’ve spoken to, to what information they previously had been provided, and certainly what they’ve previously bought – so that their next intent is identified and they are provided personalized recommendations on what to purchase next,” said Sitecore’s Sean Rusinko, Industry Business Lead for Retail and Hospitality. With customers now shopping in store, retailers will have to figure out ways to adapt and personalize the experience.
Read the full story here.