Is brick and mortar retail dead? Far from it, investors and retailers say
Best Buy opened its doors at five o’clock this morning for people looking to find Black Friday deals on Thursday November 24, 2022.The pandemic was supposed to kill brick-and-mortar retail, which had struggled for years against online competitors. As stores shuttered and malls emptied, online shopping only became more entrenched, and customers only more accustomed to clicking, buying and picking up almost anything they wanted from their doormat within days, if not hours.
Investors, too, are back, spending billions of dollars to acquire shopping centers, malls and other retail properties in Greater Houston alone. Even commerce companies have bought into brick-and-mortar retail, opening stores, showrooms and pop-up shops to extend their reach. The shoe and apparel brand Allbirds started online, but now operates 38 physical stores in the U.S., including one opened early this year in Rice Village. Having locations was essential, the company said in a statement, because they allowed customers to see the shoe in person, feel the fabric and try it on. Over the past year, Allbirds said it has steadily increased the number of customers shopping at in-person stores -- and the amount customers spend.
"As convenient as it is to buy online for some, other consumers like to shop for a mattress in a trial environment, so we want to meet the customer where they are," the company said in a statement.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Just 1 in 20 people in the U.S. have dodged COVID infection so far, study saysAn estimated 94% of people in the U.S. have been infected with the COVID-19 virus at least once, according to according to a new paper from researchers at Harvard’s School of Public Health. T…
Read more »
2 killed, 2 injured in shooting at Far South Side gathering: policeAt least four people we shot and two were killed at a gathering on the Far South Side Friday night.
Read more »
Shooting at Far South Side gathering leaves 2 dead, 2 woundedTwo men are dead and two other people were wounded in a shooting in the West Pullman neighborhood Saturday morning.
Read more »
Trump criticized for dining with far-right activist Nick Fuentes and rapper YeThe former president dined with Nick Fuentes and hip-hop artist Ye earlier this week
Read more »
NASA's Orion capsule enters far-flung orbit around moonThe capsule and its three test dummies entered lunar orbit more than a week after launching on the $4 billion demo that's meant to pave the way for astronauts.
Read more »
All the protests (so far) at the FIFA World Cup in QatarThe FIFA World Cup in Qatar has not been short of protests — and there are still three weeks left.
Read more »