The Shape of Post-Covid Retail

The draw of big cities, like New York, London, LA, or Tokyo is that they are made of a series of distinct, colorful neighborhoods, each with their own identity, vibe, and demographic. What makes them different are the small, local, mom-and-pop shops—not the chains of identical mass retail stores.

Social and cultural poverty is tightly linked to economic poverty. The U.S. Small Business Administration estimates that smaller retailers drive 44 percent of the economy. Allowing them to fail, writes Retail Dive, “would be a blow to the country’s general welfare.” The big, mass, and vertically integrated retailers are undoubtedly hurting. They st... See more

We may see specialized last-mile firms adopt the kind of values-based messaging and thoughtful identity design they need to become brands all their own. The space may stratify, with companies that deliver consistently exceptional handling and fair conditions for their employees becoming the preferred last-mile carriers of aspirational, upmarket ret... See more

The physical locations that survive this extended pause will likely reopen with a focus on high-touch clienteling and luxury service, where shop visits are appointment-only (or tightly controlled and restricted) and oriented around consumer experience rather than pure sales.