Consumer Behavior

One third of retailers confident about growth ahead

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November 9, 2021

Just a little over one third, 37%, of retailers are confident their companies will grow in the next 12 months though recovery from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic remains a worry.

Those are top findings from the SML RFID State of Retail in a Post Pandemic Era report that examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the apparel retail industry. The report polled more than 500 independent senior decision makers from apparel retailers within the U.S. and U.K.

"The past 18 months have proven to be a significant challenge for the retail industry, having been impacted heavily by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, these organizations were forced to adapt to shifting consumer demands as in-store operations temporarily ground to a halt and e-commerce became the primary sales channel. Unsurprisingly, retailers deemed recovering from the pandemic as the most significant obstacle, with 38% of respondents stating this as their biggest challenge," stated a press release on the findings.

The report finds that two out of five retail decision makers, 42%, stated online home delivery has been their primary sales channel the past year.

"The impacts and changes that have come about from the pandemic on retail are clear to see by now. However, as recovery from COVID-19 continues, it's important that retailers continue to strive to understand the ever-changing needs of their customers and invest in the solutions that help to provide the best customer experience and returns for shareholders possible," Dean Frew, chief technology officer and SVP of RFID Solutions at SML Group, said in the release.