Before the pandemic, many brick-and-mortar retailers were already seeing less traffic due to the ease and convenience of online shopping.
And with potential customers cooped up at home by COVID, the trend continued.
The diminishing in-person shopping is an issue locally. Collierville has some empty storefronts in town, including at Carriage Crossing, which has 712,000 square feet of retail space.
Despite the increased interest in online shopping, many still desire to shop in-person.
“The death of brick-and-mortar retail is greatly exaggerated,” said John Duncan, Collierville’s economic and community development director.
State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville, chairs the state’s commerce committee, and he is a development consultant locally. He and Duncan both believe retail is less about the products in store but creating an experience.
“I think the challenge is going to be creating an environment that is inviting and intriguing and draws people in beyond just the retailing,” Vaughan said. “If you are going to be a specialty shop, you must attract spaces that make people want to go there.”
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