The Retail Industry Is Focusing On Customer Experience And Convenience To Win In E-Commerce

For decades, the retail industry stood strong. Retailers emerged fairly unscathed during the first wave of the internet in the ’90s because consumers still by and large chose to shop in physical stores staffed with employees that strived to provide customer service. So, it was business as usual with a small number of wary execs cautiously eyeing the growing shift toward e-commerce. Those days are long gone thanks to Amazon and the latest wave of technology that makes it convenient for consumers to shop from anywhere via e-commerce sites and mobile apps. A quick glance through recent headlines reveals why retailers are hustling to embrace e-commerce and become more digitally minded businesses: Toys R Us plans to close 800 stores this year as it likely begins to phase out its U.S. operations; Best Buy will shutter all 250 of its small retail sites that sell mobile phones; and Foot Locker plans to shut down 110 stores to focus on high-performing locations. These recent moves aren’t just a shift to e-commerce. Publicly held brands also have to position themselves as cutting edge for investors to compete alongside Amazon, Alibaba and other e-commerce giants. Read more at Adweek.