Consumers still rely on brick-and-mortar retailers
Despite the damage and trauma left behind by Hurricane Sandy, one lesson that was learned leading up to and throughout the massive storm is the fact that consumers still heavily rely on brick-and-mortar retail stores, especially in emergency or disaster situations.
NBC News reports that residents on the East Coast rushed to retail stores in preparation for the hurricane to stock up on necessary supplies such as food, batteries and clothing. While online retailers provide convenience for shoppers, brick-and-mortar stores give customers the quick access they are looking for, whether it be for storm supplies or just a quick purchase. Many retailers have been struggling to compete with their ecommerce counterparts, but this one aspect is something physical storefronts can offer.
"Everyone's saying that brick-and-mortar retailing is dead," retail industry analyst Brian Sozzi told the source. "All you need to do is go to Amazon right now and type in 'hurricane preparation' and nothing comes up."
According to Retail Customer Experience, these brick-and-mortar retailers can sometimes be viewed as heroes in times of crisis, as consumers are eager to buy items needed for emergencies or in unexpected situations.
