2018 Was A Great Year For Retail, 2019 Is Another Story

After a healthy year that wiped away the notion of a “retail apocalypse,” 2019 is promising to be a year of transition amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty, and as pure-plays and other disruptive brands continue to take share, according to Deloitte’s 2019 Retail Outlook, which was emailed to Retail Dive. That also comes as back operations continue to compress, with fashion cycles shortening and supply chains speeding up, for example, and as the consumer demands convenience, Deloitte said. To meet the challenges, legacy retailers must ensure that their brand position is clear, their data yields value and their loyalty programs are effective, according to the report. They should also be investing in disruptive startups in some way — partnering with them, acquiring them or drawing inspiration from them — without compromising their existing business operations, Deloitte said. Read more at Retail Dive.