Retail Stores Get A Bad Rap, As Closures Pile Up. But Here’s How Stores Boost Online Sales

With new retail store closures being announced almost every week, bricks and mortar can get a bad rap. And with all the talk of Amazon’s dominance over the retail industry, it can be easy to forget the majority of purchases still take place in stores today. But a new study from the International Council of Shopping Centers shows real estate shouldn’t be looked at like a glaring liability, but instead stores are giving a significant boost to online sales. A survey from ICSC shows bricks-and-mortar stores clearly offer a boost to online sales, and vice versa. ICSC says it’s a “halo effect.” Read more at CNBC.