August 26, 2020 | While August may seem a little early for most to think about the holiday shopping season, this time typically represents a critical period for retailers. But this year presents a much more unique challenge given the persistent influence of COVID-19 on consumer spending and shopping habits, as well as the importance of trying to recoup lost sales from the roller coaster of shutdowns and reopening guidelines. Fortunately, hidden within the COVID chaos is the silver lining: the true holiday shopping experience sought by millions of consumers cannot be found solely online or in a big warehouse, but along the Main Streets throughout the U.S.
In this post, Matthew Wagner, Ph.D., Vice President of Revitalization Programs provides insight on how to strategically plan and prepare Main Street retailers and districts for a holiday shopping season like none before.