Even before COVID-19, the British high street was undergoing a slow and painful decline. So has COVID-19 changed everything? Or did the pandemic just rapidly accelerate changes that were already being planned?
In this recent article in The Conversation, Bath Retailing and Contemporary Consumerism Lab member Tamsin McLaren discusses trends such as small scale and “inventory-less” stores, direct-to-consumer brands, and the the need for agility among traditional department stores to successfully meet the needs of the shopper of today and in the future. Online shopping is not the only option, but to survive post-pandemic, businesses must consider which elements of “retail theatre” they wish to provide to remain relevant.