Axios: The impending retail apocalypse

[Mike 03]

16 mins ago - Economy & Business
AXIOS
Jennifer A. Kingson

Because of the coronavirus and people's buying habits moving online, retail stores are closing everywhere — often for good.

Why it matters: Malls are going belly up. Familiar names like J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus and J. Crew have filed for bankruptcy. Increasingly, Americans' shopping choices will boil down to a handful of internet Everything Stores and survival-of-the-fittest national chains.

Driving the news: A research report from UBS predicts that 100,000 brick-and-mortar U.S. retail stores will close by 2025, in a trend that started before the pandemic and has accelerated amid coronavirus-related shutdowns.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/retail-apocalypse-coronavirus-stores-closing-77b8adf0-2cd1-499c-9375-fb3e05af0730.html

[Sherman A1]

1. Yup

Third, Fourth Quarter 2020 and all of 2021 are going to be a Retail Sector bloodletting. I read previously that 25k stores will close and I expect more than that. Lots of jobs lost and sales taxes for communities that (foolishly chose to in my opinion) rely upon them.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I hate online shopping.

[dhol82]

3. +1

I need to feel the fabrics and see the drape of the garment.
And shoes! My feet are really bad. I need to try on every pair. Even then they don’t always work out. If I had to do it online I would be returning them all the time.

[mwb970]

18. I order my clothing and shoes from Amazon.

If I am uncertain about size or fit I order three options and return the ones that don't fit for free.

[dhol82]

35. I just ordered three different dresses online.

None of them had a flattering fit.
I am happy that they are from a store that has reopened so that I can return them and then go looking for something that will suit me.

[gab13by13]

5. What's to hate?

I got the same merchandize during the pandemic without having to go into stores full of non-mask wearing Trumpers.

Many years ago, when Walmart came to town, I stayed away from the junk Chinese products and supported my local businesses. Many people did not. We ended up with less workers because of Walmart than if we still had the mom and pop stores.

Don't get me wrong, I still shop at the mom and pop stores that are left, but I still won't shop at Walmart, I don't feel sorry for it in the least. Dog eat dog.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Not being able to try on things, feel fabrics, see actual colors, see

all varieties of items to name a few. I read that 75% of online bought clothing is returned. That's a hassle.
I also do not shop either Walmart nor Amazon.

[Sedona]

11. Prime wardrobe..just saying

Works great for me!

https://www.amazon.com/prime-wardrobe/b?ie=UTF8&node=14807110011

[bonniebgood]

24. Thanks for the link. Love it. nt

[Kaleva]

17. It's more like 10%

https://www.npr.org/2018/06/08/617858833/online-shoppers-say-they-rarely-return-purchases-why

[mwb970]

20. 75% seems high to me.

[Kaleva]

23. 75% is a made up figure. See post# 17.

[lark]

25. I feel much the same way, but I do order clothes online some.

I just don't expect a lot from it, anticipate that some of my items won't make it (out of stock) or that it won't fit right or look good. I started ordering when I was working 70 plus hours a week, raising teenagers and helping out mom as she declined. I quit ordering online when I retired, and I enjoy shopping most of the time. I too like seeing the colors, feeling the fabric, see if it wrinkles a lot, try it on and try it on with things that might look good with it. I miss all of that.

I do have a regular Chewy shipment and I love them and we order from Amazon quite a bit - but I do miss clothes shopping. I guess I've always been a "clothes hound", so I have a good sized wardrobe, just need to lose 10 lbs so clothes fit better.

[2naSalit]

31. +1

And I want stuff that wasn't made in China which most online stuff is.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. I do too

I'm tired of returns, inadequate sizing, delivery snafus. There nothing like touching and feeling the goods, and trying on for size. Tired of merchandise being shipped that is equivalent (same model #, same part #, form, fit, and function) but finding replacement part # 123 is not the same as my part #123. Local auto parts stores have their merit. And I do mean local, not the strip mall chains.

I enjoy the day out shopping. Walking, talking, lunch and dinner. It's all lost with online everything. I bought very little at Amazon, and no longer buy there. They have delivery problems. They cannot tell me when end delivery is by FedEx truck, or when it's turned over to the USPS. They have no idea what to say when I ask.

Walmart is about my only online source. Their in-store delivery, which is the only way to buy some things, has been accurate and good.

[Kaleva]

21. Amazon delivery has been very good for me.

Shipping is fast and the tracking numbers Amazon has on my orders lets me know exactly where the items are in the shipping chain. The arrival time is very accurate.

I also take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and avoid going into stores as much as i possibly can.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Brick & mortar chains in danger. Small stores can offer hands-on service & unique items to survive.

[gab13by13]

6. I agree, see my post above yours,

I live in a rural area where Walmart put a lot of small shops out of business. I even buy my appliances at my local store. I pay a little more but I know the people who own the store, grew up with them. A friend of mine is a cousin to the owners of the store, he shops at Lowes.

[FakeNoose]

10. The stores that do remain open will be charging higher prices for certain

Americans will be ordering cheap Chinese merchandise online and waiting weeks to get the stuff. OR going to specialty retail store (if they're lucky enough to have one locally) and buying something they get to see first, for twice the price. If this Covid-19 quarantine is still going on (until the vaccine is available to everyone) those will be the only 2 options.

That's how it's going to be in the very near future. Think how many jobs it will cost when retail is destroyed. Remember when Donald Chump said "What have you got to lose?" and the idiots all voted for him? We now know the answer to that: EVERYTHING!

[safeinOhio]

12. Main street shops were shut down by malls.

Malls were shut down by big box stores.
Big box stores shut down by dot coms.

[erronis]

29. And then what happens when the internet is controlled by gov't and big $$$s?

Just rhetorically.

It already is, but the screws haven't been tightened too much, yet.

[CatLady78]

13. I am constantly worried about running out of cat food.nt

[gab13by13]

14. I order on line and it comes the next day.

Well I did, now that my local pet food store has opened back up I go back there with a mask on. If I see too many people without masks I will go back on line.

[mwb970]

16. I order it in bulk from Amazon.

24 cans of flavor A, 24 cans of flavor B. It is cheaper than at the grocery store (sometimes much cheaper), and arrives the next day.

[Auggie]

19. We'll always have grocery stores. And, I imagine, pet food stores.

[CatLady78]

27. ..

I have 8 cats (just acquired one more abandoned kitten..our local shelter is underfunded and shorthanded) and many visiting strays. We never turn away old cats..lame cats etc.

Feeding them is not a financial strain. But I do worry about the stores running out of the damn stuff...I sterilized 4 cats in the last year and a half but the kitten and cat supply seems never-ending....sigh...

And no I am not a crazy cat hoarder -though I certainly sound like one . I will absolutely not take on more cats.

[Duppers]

33. I ❤ Chewy.com

I order all my dogs' food & supplies from them.

[mwb970]

15. I have not shopped in a brick-and-mortar store for anything for many years.

Other than grocery shopping. And I order a lot of grocery items online when my local store doesn't stock them! For me, all of the advantages lie with online shopping: more convenience, more selection, customer reviews and so on.

[northoftheborder]

22. SHOES

I MUST try on. Problem feet. Also expensive brands, often made in Germany or Italy are the only ones I am comfortable in. I spend much more on shoes than clothes. I do order clothes sometimes online, but 1/3 sent back -doesn't fit, color wrong, etc.. and usually I have to pay for shipping. A couple of months ago I ordered some clothes from Macy's (during shut-down) and had to return half of them. They took forever to credit my account. I am NOT a "shopping for entertainment" shopper. But I will really not be happy if the big and small stores go out of business.

[Duppers]

34. Bingo. nt

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

26. As someone who is gender-nonconforming

And with a fair number of trans friends, online shopping means a wider variety of choices and not being judged for them by retail staff.

I know I won’t be able to find my size in the gender I want if I go into a brick and mortar. But it’ll be at my doorstep in two days or so if I order it online.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

28. Online shopping sucks for me, though.

I never feel really comfortable buying something without having the chance to physically inspect it. It’s just a pet peeve of mine.

Plus delivery of items is never as reliable as I want it to be. More than once I’ve been burned by Amazon.

I do buy items online when I know it’s difficult to get it in a store. But I don’t enjoy it, nor do I seek to buy things online.

And unless I’m an invalid I would never dream of wanting to buy either groceries or clothing online.

[MissB]

30. Online has its plus and minuses as folks have noted

I’m not excited about going back into an environment of stale air, be it an office or a mall. I’m sure I’m not alone.

[Johnny2X2X]

32. Retail jobs are being replaced by warehouse jobs

And let me tell you, warehouse jobs are not as good as retail jobs overall. It's harder work in a dangerous environment with longer hours and less dignity. Retail jobs weren't always well paying with great benefits, but it was a job people could do and stay in nice clothes and not have to sweat. It was a job that people who have health problems can do.

Warehouse work is brutal. You hustle and work fast and you're completely disposable to your bosses. It's hot work and if it's busy you work all hours of the day. And even that work is being replaced by automation.