1H 2021 Retail Newsletter

The retail industry has been in flux for the last several years as consumers continue to shift their purchases online. This trend clearly accelerated during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result, e-commerce was a big winner in 2020, and many retailers sharply increased their investment in their own e-commerce platforms. On top of this, many retailers of all size and scale created and/or began participating in third-party e-commerce marketplaces to broaden their reach.

Additionally, partnerships between retailers and third-party delivery services have allowed retailers to keep up with online demand during the pandemic and recent holiday season. Industry players are cross-training their employees to bolster fulfillment and delivery, reducing costs and increasing employee efficiency.

Along with the secular shift in favor of online sales, the adoption of third-party marketplaces and partnerships with third-party delivery services is expected to continue into 2021.