How retailers should adapt to the ‘new normal’ – The National

How retailers should adapt to the ‘new normal’ – The National

Even as stores reopen, 73 per cent of Americans have said they are still not comfortable with going back to old routines

















Shoppers on an escalator at Dubai Festival City mall in Dubai wearing masks during the Covid-19 outbreak. Companies need to improve both their online and offline offerings to entice customers to spend during the pandemic, says Manar Al Hinai. Pawan Singh / The National







One thing we are certain of following the Covid-19 outbreak is that businesses will not go back to how they were anytime soon.



The pandemic forced millions of us to shop online, and for many, it was their first time in doing so. Research by Mckinsey revealed that more than 75 per cent of American consumers experimented with different shopping options during the crisis. Value, convenience, and availability were the drivers behind their retailers of choice.





Even after different regions reopen, 73 per cent of Americans are still not comfortable with going back into their old out-of-home routines, which means that online shopping will remain a primary outlet for a while. Things aren't very different in Southeast Asia either. A report by management consultancy Bain &