Retail has faced a number of dramatic transformations and disruptions over the last few decades. Between the decline of malls and department stores, the rise of e-commerce, and ever-changing customer demands, it's an industry that has to constantly evolve to ensure it can hit a multitude of moving targets.
This year's holiday shopping season is shaping up to be especially difficult, with lingering effects of the pandemic still affecting nearly every aspect of retailers' operations, from supply chain shortfalls to logistical challenges to ensuring in-store shopping can be done safely. As we've seen in many industries, the pandemic also has accelerated some trends that were budding before the crisis but have since gone mainstream.
We spoke to consumer and retail experts from several firms to get a better sense of what retailers are expecting this year, and how consultants are helping to transform their operations to meet the unprecedented challenges.
