As 2020 draws to a close, retailers are facing the possibility that the 2020 holiday shopping season might start off on a bit of a slow note. This is due to the fact that the coronavirus pandemic has caused a great deal of disruption in the traditional retail market causing shoppers to be cautious with their spending.
One of the biggest changes this year is the emphasis on online shopping rather than the usual in-person holiday shopping sprees. With travel restrictions in place, shoppers are more likely to look online for gifts this season, rather than heading out to stores and malls. Furthermore, with many states continuing to enforce restrictions on large gatherings, the traditional holiday market atmosphere of music, hot-drinks, and sales promotions may be something of the past.
In terms of revenue, the holiday shopping season could still bring about a big surge in sales for retailers. Many stores are relying heavily on their online presence to make up for any lack of customers in their physical locations. Furthermore, retailers are also attempting to lure shoppers in with progressive discounts and exclusive offers.
To make matters more complicated, the rise of contactless payment options have caused retail companies to develop new technologies to ensure customer safety. For instance, many large retailers are investing in contactless payment technologies in order to reduce the need for swiping of physical cards. Furthermore, the use of biometrics, facial recognition, and other authentication techniques are being tested and evaluated to reduce the need for customers to touch anything, thus reducing their risk of contact with potentially infected surfaces.
All in all, while the holiday shopping season may be off to a slow start, retailers are working hard to ensure that consumers still have plenty of options to shop safely and conveniently. With a little bit of effort, the holiday season can still be enjoyed in all its festive glory.
As 2020 draws to a close, retailers are facing the possibility that the 2020 holiday shopping season might start off on a bit of a slow note. This is due to the fact that the coronavirus pandemic has caused a great deal of disruption in the traditional retail market causing shoppers to be cautious with their spending.
One of the biggest changes this year is the emphasis on online shopping rather than the usual in-person holiday shopping sprees. With travel restrictions in place, shoppers are more likely to look online for gifts this season, rather than heading out to stores and malls. Furthermore, with many states continuing to enforce restrictions on large gatherings, the traditional holiday market atmosphere of music, hot-drinks, and sales promotions may be something of the past.
In terms of revenue, the holiday shopping season could still bring about a big surge in sales for retailers. Many stores are relying heavily on their online presence to make up for any lack of customers in their physical locations. Furthermore, retailers are also attempting to lure shoppers in with progressive discounts and exclusive offers.
To make matters more complicated, the rise of contactless payment options have caused retail companies to develop new technologies to ensure customer safety. For instance, many large retailers are investing in contactless payment technologies in order to reduce the need for swiping of physical cards. Furthermore, the use of biometrics, facial recognition, and other authentication techniques are being tested and evaluated to reduce the need for customers to touch anything, thus reducing their risk of contact with potentially infected surfaces.
All in all, while the holiday shopping season may be off to a slow start, retailers are working hard to ensure that consumers still have plenty of options to shop safely and conveniently. With a little bit of effort, the holiday season can still be enjoyed in all its festive glory.
