Retail reopened this month in Europe, the U.S. and Australia.
The reopening of shops has been done slowly, country by country, and in the U.S. state by state.
No suprise that those nations or regions that were hardest hit by the virus have been slower to reopen.
At the same time, consumers are fed up with staying at home.
Reports continue to come in from malls that consumers are coming back. In some places fast – and in others more slowly.
- “There are insane lines to get in to malls. It’s taking a long time.” (12 News in Arizona, USA)
- “It’s just good to get out. I haven’t been shopping in forever it seems. I think we appreciate it more now.”
- Eighty-five people lined up outside CF Chinook Centre as Calgary malls reopened their doors for the first time in weeks. (Global News Canada)
Most retailers are being cautious.
Temperature scans, hand sanitizer for everyone and insisting that everyone wears a mask.
What it comes down to is that people want to go back to their normal lives. Two months of being restricted is too long for most people who are used to coming and going as they please.
And two months is not long enough to change habits or attitudes.
The ‘shock’ experienced when this virus first hit unsuspecting nations has now worn off.
Fear is turning into frustration.
People want to get back to work. At the same time, no one wants to see a return to the health crisis we saw in March and April.
Biggest Consumer Issue
- Not knowning what to believe.
The research necessary to really understand this disease will take a year – probably two years.
Still, the media is awash with conflicting opinions and alleged ‘facts’ about all aspects of coronavirus.
Biggest Retail Challenge
- Needing to reopen stores while safeguarding themselves from liabilities.
Keeping shoppers safe is the only way that retailers can keep themselves safe – from potential law suits. In case a shopper contracts coronavirus and blames it on unsafe practices in a shop that they visited.
Or if a shop employee gets ill and blames their employer for an unsafe work environment.
