We have faced several crises in the past both as a country and broadly as a humanity, but every time we have found a path forward and come out stronger as a society. COVID-19 is no different and while we will go through a shift in consumer behavior, some temporary and some long-lasting, eventually we will be back to normal or, as everyone is calling it, new normal. But first, we will have to go through the “new” new normal.
We are already seeing major shifts in retail already with curbside pickup becoming the de facto in-store shopping mode and mobile apps had their strongest months in March and April. As retailbegins to reopen, brands and retailers with broad omnichannel strategies will have an easier time providing a customer experience that can survive — maybe even thrive — in a post-COVID-19 world.
So what will the new retail experience look like in a post-COVID-19 world? Here are the five trends that will reshape retail in the post-COVID-19 world.
There will be a “new, new normal” before we settle into our “new normal.”
As stores throughout our country begin to reopen, our return to a new normal will take place gradually. Initially, consumers will be extra cautious, avoiding shopping in-store when possible. When they do venture out, shoppers will likely maintain strict social distancing when in public, which will affect store capacities and may necessitate the need for reduced customer capacity anywhere in the range of 25 to 50 percent.