Covid-19 Rewrote the Rules of Shopping. What Is Next? – The Wall Street Journal

Covid-19 changed the way we shop. The big question now is which of the new habits will stick once the pandemic recedes.

Instead of lining up on Black Friday for a bargain-priced TV, shoppers ordered from home and picked up curbside. Even those who rarely bought online before the pandemic relied on the internet to bring them everything from groceries to pajamas to fake eyelashes.

Consumers found some of the experiences forced by Covid to be convenient, said Stefan Larsson, the chief executive officer of PVH Corp., which owns Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and other brands. Anything that they perceive as making their life easier will be here to stay.

Some retailers wont be around to find out. Weaker players such as Lord & Taylor and J.C. Penney Co. filed for bankruptcy protection and closed hundreds of stores, while big companies such as Walmart Inc., Target Corp. , Amazon.com Inc. and Home Depot Inc. consolidated their power.

Those that survived are now experimenting with new ways of doing business. They are streaming virtual shopping events and allowing consumers to book online consultations. They are doing away with traditional cashiers and rolling out contactless payment systems. They are using their stores as warehouses that deliver packages to customers directly.

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Covid-19 Rewrote the Rules of Shopping. What Is Next? - The Wall Street Journal