RETAIL IN CHANGING TIMES
Retail has seen some drastic changes in the last decade between the online market exploding, the slow down of department stores and business casual taking over the office wardrobes. It's a struggle to survive in the retail world with evolving changes: how customers shop, the expectations of having fresh inventory on a constant basis, shift from brand building to going with your gut feeling, new technology that enhances virtual and reality fashion and with the world at a stand still right now during the COVID-19 Pandemic, not to mention trying to keep up with the large corporations like Amazon. Amazon has been dubbed "the beast" and has become the biggest clothing retailer in the United States. With over 250 warehouses world wide spanning 5 continents its hard for small businesses to keep up with this business giant on a regular business day and with most people working from home, Amazon is capturing more customers by the second.
Retailers are scrambling to jump online and sell their inventory anyway possible to tread above water. They are trying to reinvent themselves anyway possible to continue their existence and many are making difficult decisions of laying off their staff, downsizing or rearranging inventory delivery schedules to help cope with the financial burden of the ripple down effect of Covid shutdowns. It has been an extremely difficult year on most businesses and hopefully with the government support many local shops will be able to withstand the storm. Support from the community is especially important at this time and we are hoping people realize the importance of small businesses and not just in the retail sector. Your support is needed more than ever to sustain our locally owned businesses.