The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption of commerce. Stores were forced to close and some will not be able to reopen. Retailers face a daunting multitude of short-term challenges around health and safety, supply chain, labor force, cash flow, consumer demand and marketing. Advances in digital technology, artificial intelligence and blockchain will further challenge the survival of the brick-and-mortar retail stores we once took for granted.
Retail represents 31% of the world’s GDP and employs billions of people, but its future depends on retailers’ willingness to adapt to the new realities.
But will that be enough? E-commerce had already affected consumer behavior prior to this pandemic and, as social distancing becomes the norm, it looks like we are entering a consumer world very different than what we have all grown up with.
Dr. Jagdish Sheth, Charles H. Kellstadt Chair in Marketing at the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and Council Board Member, will discuss retail trends and the future of the retailing. Dr. Sheth has published hundreds of pieces on consumer behavior, competitive strategy, and marketing for emerging markets.
As a courtesy, this program is OPEN TO ALL.
