Dana Telsey on the death of retailers being exaggerated

Q: There was a belief for years that the rise of e-commerce would bring the end of bricks and mortar stores.  Has that been proven wrong?

A: When you think about all the headwinds that retail was faced with over the past few years, what the pandemic did was give permission to brands and retailers to accelerate, eliminating what was a cost center and focusing what can be a sales and profit driver. The narrative was, ‘ Amazon is going to take over.’ Nope. Didn’t happen. You’re seeing retailers not only survive but thrive. 

We’re seeing the physical footprint, not only be a nice-to-have, but be a must-have. You’re seeing the ability to get closer to the customer with seamless options—whether it’s buy online, pick up in store, whether it is virtual appointments, whether it’s shipped from store—the physical footprint is more essential than it’s ever been. And it also gives retailers and brands data on their customers to be able to assort and merchandise smarter. 

I think that innovation, speed, and data have only become more relevant.

~ Dana Telsey, "Bricks-and-Mortar Stores Are More Essential Than Ever for Retailers, Analyst Dana Telsey Says. These Stocks Are Well-Positioned.," Barron's.com, September 2, 2021