It has been dubbed the “retail apocalypse” — the widespread shuttering of brick-and-mortar stores across America in the wake of online shopping’s skyrocketing popularity. But how do consumers feel about this changing retail landscape?
University of Arizona researcher Sabrina Helm decided to find out in a new study published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services.
Helm and her colleagues surveyed nearly 400 consumers about their shopping habits and perceptions of today’s retail environment. While shoppers were largely split on whether they preferred doing their shopping online versus in person, most agreed on one thing: If physical stores were to disappear completely, it would have negative consequences for society, such as lost jobs, fewer opportunities for social interaction and perhaps even an increase in certain types of crime.
From 2016 to 2017, store closures in the U.S. more than tripled to about 7,000. While the rise of online shopping…
for the rest of the article, please visit https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181114164345.htm.
Last modified: December 12, 2018
