With 42 million retail industry jobs on the line, re-opening stores in a safe and timely manner has become a priority for the U.S. economy. However, a resurgence of traditional shopping will not be possible if consumers don’t feel comfortable.
A recent survey by Morning Consult reported that it will take at least six months for 24 percent of U.S. consumers to confidently enter a shopping mall, with an additional 26 percent being unable to even estimate when they might feel safe in a store again.
This uncertainty has led business leaders, government officials and health professionals to debate when non-essential businesses should reopen, but many are not aligning a proper strategy with their suggested timeline. Our very own Mark Burstein, president, has shared his comprehensive plan for reopening with Sourcing Journal, outlining how “shopping by appointment” could have a long-term positive impact.
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