Is in-person shopping dying?
While online shopping offers convenience, brick-and-mortar is not on the outs just yet
![Woman holding shopping bags.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4G7EVo4eH5Fvaja3zVdMR3-415-80.jpg)
The Covid-19 pandemic boosted the popularity of online shopping as people were stuck at home. However, coming out of lockdown, the shopping experience has changed, inspiring a new round of debate over whether brick-and-mortar stores can survive in the digital age.
The shopping experience has gotten worse
"Going to the store … is a battle that leaves consumers feeling defeated," largely because of "understaffing, inventory problems, and heavy-handed theft prevention," wrote Whizy Kim in Vox. The problem with in-person shopping is two-fold on both the sellers' and buyers' sides. The shopping experience has become "miserable," because retailers are "unable — or unwilling — to invest in stores, including the labor that makes a shopping trip go smoothly or not," Kim added. "The discontent of customers and the woes of employees are viewed on parallel tracks instead of as mirrors."
While the experience has generally declined, certain groups have always had difficulty with shopping in-store. For those with sensory processing disorders, "common shopping experiences are extremely stressful, debilitating or even painful," wrote Amanda Morris for The Washington Post. Also following the pandemic, "clothing companies returned to once again courting a thin minority." Elizabeth Endicott wrote in an opinion essay for The New York Times. "In-store access to plus size clothing above a size 24 almost seems like a mythical creature that you're lucky to discover almost by accident," remarked Christine M. in The Curvy Fashionista.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In addition, stores are losing their ability to connect to consumers. "The math on well-run stores has gotten worse and worse with time." Amanda Mull wrote in The Atlantic. "And at any price level, the charms and conveniences of in-person shopping have to be cultivated, which requires corporate oversight that actually understands and values the reasons that people like going out to shop in the first place."
It still offers benefits
"While e-commerce grew during the pandemic, there are signs that people want to visit stores in person." wrote Caitlin Gilbert and Lindsey Bever for the Post. Data has shown that in-person shopping is on the rise once again. "Since the lifting of restrictions and consumers' gradual return to more normal ways of living, physical retail has bounced back," according to an analysis by Coresight Research. In reality, "the mall as a retail concept is alive and well, with retailers pivoting to fit the demands of a digital age," wrote Eva Rothenberg for CNN.
Much of the rise is thanks to Gen Z. "The tech-savvy generation still likes shopping in physical stores just as much as they do online," explained Sawdah Bhaimiya for Insider. "Gen Z are voracious shoppers with social media encouraging young people to buy new clothes regularly." Also "rather than jostling with brick-and-mortar stores for supremacy, each shopping format is bolstering the other," with many stores having both an in-person and online presence, meaning "brands can be selective about where they open physical locations, and focus on top-tier malls with an energetic consumer base," Rothenberg continued.
There are some benefits that only come from visiting stores as well, including that "customers can bring the products home immediately," as well as "experience the product and store environment with all of their senses," Jennifer Dublino wrote for Business.com. Gen Z also enjoys going to shopping malls "for the social aspect, not for any specific product," Bhaimiya added.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How Black organizations quickly pivoted and mobilized for Kamala Harris
In the spotlight Harris has a shot at being the first Black woman to lead the Democratic ticket
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
It's not your imagination — restaurant reservations are becoming harder to get
In the Spotlight Bots, scalpers and even credit card companies are making reservations a rare commodity
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
A massive copper shortage is on the horizon
Under the Radar It is estimated that mines will only meet 80% of copper needs by 2030
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Epoch Times CFO charged with money laundering
Speed Read Weidong "Bill" Guan stands accused of laundering $67 million
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
FDIC chair out after toxic work culture report
Speed Read The report revealed a trend of sexual harassment and discrimination at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How did Starbucks 'fall from grace'?
The Explainer The coffee giant faces lower quarterly sales. Is it the economy, or have the drinks grown stale?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How Wall Street and Endless Shrimp may have killed Red Lobster
Under the Radar The company's shrimp deal may have worked a little too well
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Downtown St. Louis is in a real estate 'doom loop'
Under the Radar The city is rife with abandoned buildings and vacant lots, with its real estate market in dire straits
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How will the FTC's ban on noncompete agreements affect the workforce?
The explainer Short answer: Competition will only get fiercer
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published