Consumers are spending online instead of making potentially risky visits to physical stores, and they are also paying for purchases in different ways. The use of payment methods such as buy now, pay later (BNPL), for instance, are on the uptick amid the pandemic, as shoppers...
The pandemic has disrupted the lives of millions, yet not all areas of life have shut down. Consumers are engaging in many of the same activities as they did pre-COVID-19, but they are participating in them online. And in retail, restaurants are facing an unprecedented economic fallout as they...
The pandemic is impacting industries globally, but fewer verticals have been harder hit than restaurants. Stay-at-home mandates and social distancing have led to sinking dining traffic, as restaurants have been bringing in revenue only from delivery and takeout. And in recurring payments, an increasing share of...
Consumers might not have returned to their pre-pandemic shopping habits yet, but they are setting records for wine. Online wine retailers are reporting large increases in sales amid the pandemic, and they are hiring more people for their operations. And in logistics, shipping companies are contending with...
Peloton is not the only connected fitness company benefiting from pandemic-related stay-at-home orders, with ICON Health & Fitness and Nautilus also finding new demand. In technology initiatives, Toronto’s Digital Main Street program received a boost from the academic world, while its smart city project became a casualty of the health crisis. All this, Today...
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) pet brands are navigating changes in the market caused by a pandemic-led digital shift. Pluto Electronics, in one case, has created a unique strategy for entering the U.S. and European Union markets with a product for cats called Circle Zero. And in fashion, MySize has designed a potential...
Retailers are finding new methods to stay in contact with customers during the pandemic, such as SMS messaging, which has also given a boost to social commerce as companies such as Levi’s have gone public with their participation in TikTok’s “Shop Now” program. And in eCommerce, independent bookstores are seeing new life...
The post-pandemic reality is setting in for Main Street retail even though the crisis is hardly over, while Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan guidance issued in late April marked a major change from when the program opened. And in the gig economy, workers have been especially impacted by COVID-19 as...
COVID-19 has taken an unprecedented toll on the livelihoods and wellness of consumers. But many policymakers are making a push to lift the restrictions that were put into place to slow the contagion’s spread in hopes of reviving the economy. Texas, in one case, has been one...
