Bricks-and-mortar retail- it’s not an apocalypse!
Despite predictions of nation-wide devastation, the bricks-and-mortar retail presence is still growing at a rate of 3 percent per year. 4,000 more chain stores opened than closed this year. Many closures have in fact been a long-overdue correction. In the US, four times more of real-estate square footage is devoted to retail than in Japan and France; six times more than England; nine times more than Italy; and 11 times more than Germany. Stores that are booming emphasize experiencing products before purchase, and are often enhancements of a company’s online presence.