RAN March 2022

March 2022

Reflecting on Retail– Two Years Into the Pandemic

By Bryan Wachter

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S WE APPROACH THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY of the COVID-19 pandemic, I asked the RAN team to reflect this month on the ways the pandemic has permanently changed the retail industry, from the supply chain to customer experience and from the pharmacy to the halls of Carson City.

Across the industry, the overarching theme over the past two years has been the acceleration of the digital transformation and how customers want to interact in the retail environment.

Early in the pandemic employers had to find a new balance for staffing to accommodate social distancing, more rigid disinfecting procedures and longer length sick leaves due to the need to quarantine. Today

Bryan Wachter

employers are struggling fill open positions as competition for employees has reached an all-time high. All of this has resulted in an increased need for automation from manufacturing to distribution as well as in the store and order delivery.

Automation is being added to the retail experience daily.

Customers are able to place orders from a kiosk or a phone and self-check is becoming the norm in most stores (or no check

if you’re in an equipped Amazon or Whole Foods location, though that tech is not in Nevada yet). We’re also seeing the delivery industry automated; there are markets exploring having autonomous vehicles deliver your UberEats and Walmart has used drones in North Las Vegas to deliver COVID tests. My pre-teen sons

Continued on page 6

INSIDE Pandemic Changes Within Community Pharmacy.....................2 Dress for Success.........3 The Art of Legislating a Pandemic.................4 Navigating Carson City’s New Normal......8 RAN Membe Profile: Total Show Technology (TST)........9

Retail Association of Nevada • www.rannv.org

Pandemic Changes Within Community Pharmacy

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By Liz MacMenamin

HE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE UNITED STATES revealed the vulnerabilities of the health care system.

During this time, the community pharmacy, and the essential employees of the pharmacy: the pharmacist, the pharmacy technician and all the clerks, continued to take care of their patients.

Governor Sisolak and the Board of Pharmacy collaborated to enable your community pharmacy to ensure that patients in Nevada had access to their pharmacist and pharmacy.

The collaboration enabled the regulatory body and the governor to address

patient care to the public.

This pandemic also brought a greater awareness to the public and our elected officials on the importance of the pharmacist and community pharmacy in delivery of health care to Nevadans and across

antiquated regulations that previously served as roadblocks to delivery of

the United States. The pharmacist has always been a critical access point

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Liz MacMenamin

for a patient’s healthcare information.

In the spring of 2020, the federal government also recognized the importance of pharmacists during this time and authorized the pharmacy to order and administer the COVID-19 tests to their patients. In December of 2020, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergencyuse authorization (EUA) for a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19.

They partnered with Walgreens and other community pharmacies to deliver and administer these vaccines to the most vulnerable citizens, those in a long-term care facility. The pharmacists stepped up and did an amazing job in providing this service. Some gave up their personal time and volunteered to provide this service During the pandemic, Nevadans were able to utilize the pharmacist to provide point-ofcare testing for disease management and obtain testing for COVID-19.

The pharmacist was also allowed to utilize the pharmaceutical technician to assist in the process of

providing patient care. The current regulation limited the number of technicians in the pharmacy and the governor’s directive increased that number to provide more assistance to the pharmacists. This change highlighted that our state needed to move forward with changes. This change did not pose the public safety threat that was perceived by board staff and members.

The industry is grateful for the forward thinking involved in this process.

The community pharmacy willingly stepped up to provide some of the important steps to help mitigate and protect the public effectively.

Patients still needed access to their medications for an ongoing disease as well as navigate their health during the pandemic. Their community pharmacist remained available to provide this service.

These are just a few of the changes to a pharmacy during the pandemic.

We owe a big thanks to all the pharmacists out here for their dedication to their profession and their service to the community. ■

www.rannv.org • Retail Association of Nevada

Dress For Success

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Guest Submission by Rebecca Dirks Garcia, Dress For Success Southern Nevada Community Development Manager

HE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN A TIME OF TREMENDOUS upheaval for Nevada’s workforce often disproportionately impacting the lives of women and families.

Dress for Success (DFS) is a global not-profit organization with affiliates in Southern Nevada and Reno that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Since March 2020 when pandemic closures began, we have been on the forefront of helping provide tools and resources to women to find and retain employment.

Our programs offer long-lasting solutions

that help women break the cycle of poverty and pursue self-sufficiency and stability.

Our vision is a world where women are economically independent and empowered with the tools to succeed in life.

When women succeed and lead companies, the community benefits.

Company profits can be close to 50 percent higher when women are well represented at the top. Retail and consumer brand companies currently outperform the broader Fortune 500 in terms of female representation at the most senior level.

These two industries accounted for more than onethird of the 37 women CEOs in the Fortune 500 in December 2020. Some 12% of retailer and consumer brand companies have a female CEO, compared to just 7% of the Fortune 500 as a whole.

This month we celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day with our annual Your Hour Her Power Campaign. At a time of global crisis addressing the needs of women in a dynamic

workforce has never been more critical. In Nevada we know there is a long road ahead to address the needs of women in an evolving workforce. More women are expected to leave the workforce in 2022, adding to the 13 million that were forced out in 2020.

At the same time women played a critical role in serving our state, occupying nearly 60% of frontline jobs during this pandemic, according to a Guinn Center study.

We invite you to partner with us and help women on the path to economic independence by: l Sharing job openings and resources such as presenting at our virtual workshops l Donating goods and materials such as clothing, shoes, accessories, office supplies, toiletries and bags. High needs include plus size clothing and work wear including scrubs. l Volunteering individually or organizing a group volunteer event with your employees l Referring employees or job seekers in need of professional clothing or career coaching

DFSSN supports job seeking clients who identify as women who are 16 years of age and older through a network of over 150 community partner organizations. We are the only 501c3 in Nevada whose core service is providing free professional clothing to support women in their journey to secure employment and break the cycle of poverty.

For more information contact Rebecca Dirks Garcia at rebecca@ dfssouthernnevada.org. ■

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Retail Association of Nevada • www.rannv.org

The Art of Legislating a Pandemic

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Guest Submission by Senator Joe Hardy

ORE closed, unemployment given even more people THAN was complicated by a virtual vaccination.

TWO people being paid Remember when YEARS not to work. Masking we were told of herd into the pandemic, mandates haven’t lived immunity if we got Covid-19 continues to up to expectations of to 90%? be a good example of disease prevention.

We do not know “what we don’t know, we Vaccine mandates enough to definitively don’t know”. have generated an promise anyone that Authoritarian opposite effect in they are immune as we statements have been those who have been know breakthrough an exercise in how to undecided. Emergency infections still can be not build trust and Use Authorizations lethal to the elderly confidence “The feelings for personal liberties have and vulnerable. with the Bottom line, been seriously underestimated ” public, and vaccinations as science changes as (EUAs) created more help prevent disease, we “know” more. consternation. The trials hospitalizations, and As a physician and to prop up the economy death. state senator, I have a have led to higher Doctors and scienunique perspective as we inflation than seen in tists (and legislators) legislate this pandemic. recent years. Confusion disagree on a regular baHerd immunity for has existed as to who is sis. Science evolves into COVID-19 is as unlikely in charge of decisionagreements and comas it is for the flu virus. making. Is it the Feds, mon understandings, Elderly, unvaccinated States, Counties, Cities, even sometimes into and “vulnerables” are State or local Health truth. If those with such thus most at risk for Boards, the Regents, education can disagree hospitalization and death. the Legislature, the and not be accused of The feelings for legislative commission, being stupid or lack unpersonal liberties the schools or even derstanding, why cannot have been seriously NSHE? lay people be afforded underestimated. The Despite NSHE the same liberty. over reactions of school wanting to extend the We do our society closures have cost our mandate of student a disservice when we children’s mental health vaccination, UNLV is 91% put people in boxes of severely. vaccinated, UNR 89% disrespect when they Businesses have vaccinated. Omicron has disagree with us. At the

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Senator Joe Hardy

same time, there are some things that have been accepted by most people as facts. l FACT: COVID-19 can be fatal. l FACT: Vaccines decrease the incidence, severity, and lethality of the infection. l FACT: Some people are more susceptible to hospitalization and death. l FACT: There are potential side effects of the vaccines and medications proposed and approved completely or under emergency use approval (EUA). l FACT: There is understandable Continued on net page

www.rannv.org • Retail Association of Nevada

Legislating a Pandemic Continued from previous page hesitancy by some people to be vaccinated, use approved or other medication under EUA. l FACT: People may have distrust of conventional sources of knowledge and seek alternative means of prevention and treatment. The use of mandates is a blunt instrument to encourage conformity and may even harden the resolve of those with uncertainty of who to trust. l FACT: We will not achieve herd immunity any more than we can with the influenza viruses. l FACT: Viruses mutate. l FACT: There are breakthrough COVID-19 infections in people fully vaccinated and boosted. l FACT: There is some evidence of improved ability to deal with breakthrough infections, if already naturally infected or vaccinated in the past. l FACT: The health care system has been and will be severely stretched coping with this pandemic even when it becomes more

biggest question, how endemic. easier to find fault than l FACT: The much liberty/freedom to to reach accord. allow people to exercise business community is I would propose all the while trying to flexible to changes. that we look to the l FACT: protect transmission to business sector to be others.

Governmental the proverbial canary I am optimistic.

I have bureaucracies are in the mine. We note hope. I think we have struggling to come that the makers of become humble enough masks are decreasing to uniform consensus to have dialog across the on what is the “right” production as of proverbial aisles. This is way to deal with the yesterday. Businesses not a two-way struggle virus and its effects on are adjusting to have but there are many who children, young people, at home workplaces. agree on issues on both adults, the elderly, those Fewer vaccinations and sides of the single aisle vulnerable, the schools, testing are being given businesses, at pharmacies. “...How much liberty/freedom to allow travel, More people churches, people to exercise all the while trying to are flying testing, commercially. protect transmission to others.” delivering Oral system. I do not believe medications and medications are being there will be one right vaccines, boosting, produced. People are answer. I do not think funding efforts, business shopping. The “canary” is we need to blame one closures/lockdowns, alive. person or position for all masking mandates, Let’s get back to our the ills of this pandemic. social distancing, lives, our schools, our I learned in handwashing, types businesses, our public Government class, of masking, which meetings, our churches, that it is through the level of government our recreation, and our collision of ideas in the can impose mandates, extended families. marketplace that we unemployment, inflation Let’s protect will learn the truth. We artificially induced, cost our elderly and our are certainly in such of gasoline, supply chain vulnerable. Let’s get a collision time now. effectiveness, work from vaccinated.

As we work through home options, health Let’s allow those this commonly shared disparities, internet who need/want to wear challenge, perhaps, access, ground and air a mask to do so and we will learn to work travel, incarceration risks protect them. together despite of disease, indoor versus Let’s get Nevada back in outdoor, the next variant, disagreements on other business safely. ■ pressing problems. It is … and perhaps the

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Retail Association of Nevada • www.rannv.org

NEVADA GOVERNOR ENDS MASK MANDATE Citing a downward trend in COIVD cases, Governor Steve Sisolak ended the state’s mask mandate on February 10, 2022. This will allow the public to visit indoor locations, such as schools, without wearing masks; however, masks are still required in high-risk settings including hospitals and nursing homes. The choice to require masks

Nevada Notes moving forward will be left up to the individual entity, including businesses or school districts.

Las Vegas Sun GOVERNOR SISOLAK DELIVERS OFF-YEAR STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS While typically reserved as an introduction to the legislative session, Governor Sisolak decided to address Nevadans to share his plans for

how Nevada will spend nearly $2 billion in federal pandemic relief money.

A key component of his plan will include a $500 million investment in a new housing initiative, the largest housing-related investment in state history, according to his speech.

Nevada Independent NEVADA REPUBLICANS RESPOND TO THE STATE OF THE STATE In his response to

Governor Sisolak, Senate Minority Leader James Settelmeyer called out the governor on his spending strategies, saying, “Spending money is not leadership.” He also listed his concerns for rising inflation and cost of living in the state under Governor Sisolak’s leadership.

KTNV Las Vegas

Two Years Into the Pandemic Continued from page 1 are eagerly awaiting pizza delivery robots to become the norm.

Which brings me to convenience. Two years ago the public health crisis required retailers and customers to find ways to transfer essential items with little to no contact, causing an explosion in demand for curbside pickup and delivery services.

Even as the health risks of contact have been reduced, the demand for pickup has stayed strong. The pandemic exposed nearly every customer to the convenience of 6

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pickup.

As we’re transitioning into the “next normal” omnichannel is key. Customers are continuing to demand a seamless integration of the digital and in-person retail experience.

Customers want to see the same prices and deals whether they are shopping at a store online or in-person.

They want to be able to order online and pickup up in store instead of waiting days for delivery, and they’re willing to give retailers the benefit of the doubt when it comes to trying new

things, like delivery by drone.

Retailers have invested heavily in digital during the pandemic, and the customer demand for it is not going away.

Customers are engaging with brands online via social media more than ever, and that includes recording their experiences, both good and bad. Retailers learned in the pandemic they can no longer ignore social media, especially as the next marketplace may very well be the Metaverse.

Retailers have found

that by investing in these online relationships with customers a new type of brand loyalty can be created, even from a distance.

As of writing this, the pandemic has slowed, and most mandates have been rolled back.

The retail industry should be applauded for not just keeping doors open and stores stocked but for embracing and even leading the digital transformation that will continue to improve the customer experience long after the pandemic has ended. ■

www.rannv.org • Retail Association of Nevada

THERE’S A LATTÉ TO LOVE AT TARGET’S DRIVE UP IN 2022 Target recently announced they are expanding their drive up offerings to include Starbucks orders and order returns, starting in select cities in fall 2022. This comes after customers have responded favorably to existing drive up order pickup. Target plans to make these drive up services available without reserving pickup time windows or requiring membership fees.

News Release RITE AID ANNOUNCES STRENGTHENING CITIES INITIATIVE Rite Aid Healthy Futures is planning a $10 million Strengthening Cities initiative to improve food equity with grants to 20 nonprofit organizations to find programs including community gardens, urban farms, school partnerships, hunger-relief efforts and more. The program identified six focus cities with demographic and health needs where Rite Aid has a significant presence with additional funding partners to be announced in the future.

Yahoo Finance

National Notes

AMAZON, WALMART RELAXING EMPLOYEE MASK MANDATES Many of the nation’s largest employers are reversing company mask mandates as several states have recently ended their indoor mask mandates.

Walmart will continue to require masks for certain pharmacy and health clinic employees.

NPR

WALMART TO LAUNCH BEAUTY ACCELERATOR TO SUPPORT UP-ANDCOMING BRANDS With the goal to discover “the next big names in beauty”, Walmart’s new accelerator program, Walmart Start, will select five beauty brands to support for a potential launch with Walmart. Selected brands will be announced in May of this year with the goal of launching in stores and online by March 2023.

Retail Dive LOWE’S TO PARTNER WITH INSTACART AS FIRST HOME RETAIL PARTNER Lowe’s, with the support of Instacart, can now provide same-day delivery in two pilot areas with plans to expand in the coming months. This collaboration will be the first for Instacart beyond their grocery service offerings.

Fox Business

PHARMACISTS IN SHORT SUPPLY As many as 80% of pharmacies report struggles recruiting pharmacists, offering as much as $50,000 signing bonuses to fill positions.

This was a growing challenge before the pandemic, largely due to a notable decline in applicants to degree programs; however, pandemic has acerbated the problem, leading to pharmacy closures when there are insufficient staff members to cover for those who miss work due to illness.

Drug Store News

AMAZON’S TELEHEALTH AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE Amazon has expanded its Amazon Care platform to provide virtual health services nationwide with in-person services coming to more than 20 new cities in 2022.

Amazon Care will provide a wide range of urgent and primary care services, and when an issue can’t be resolved virtually, a nurse practitioner can be sent to the patent’s home where in-person care is available.

Drug Store News

BRICK-AND-MORTAR GROCERY STILL POPULAR WITH CUSTOMERS In a recent survey by Advantage Sales, nine of 10 households’ primary shoppers still prefer to shop for groceries in person; however, shoppers are expecting more from the store’s omnichannel offerings. Shoppers are using a blended strategy of digital and in-person, and expect to find the same specials and coupons whether they shop from a store online or in person.

Supermarket News WHOLE FOODS ISSUES INAUGURAL SOCIAL IMPACT UPDATE Whole Foods issued its first report toward key initiatives including environmental stewardship, responsible sourcing and community giving. Highlights included the donation of nearly 30 million meals through their Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program as well as generating millions of dollars for its Sourced for Good program.

Supermarket News GROCERY PRICES RISING WITH INFLATION Grocery prices increased across five of the six major categories Continued on page 11

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Retail Association of Nevada • www.rannv.org

Navigating Carson City’s “New Normal”

By Lindsay Knox and Lauren Parobek-Warden

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HILE WE ARE STILL LIVING in the middle of a pandemic, we are finally starting to see a faint light at the end of the tunnel.

For nearly two years, the phrase “new normal” has taken on many meanings, including Lindsay Knox Lauren Parobek-Warden wearing masks, bumping began with no lobbyists inadequate amount elbows versus shaking or members of the to time to provide the hands, and having public allowed in the necessary background constant access to hand building; only legislators and reason whether sanitizer. and limited staff or not to support Not only have our members had access. legislation. personal day-to-day For more than Additionally, it was routines changed, but half of the legislative hard for members to importantly our work session, participation engage and hash out routines. In many ways was held virtually, with issues due to the hybrid how business format. Voting “As a lobbyist, one of the biggest is conducted on legislation obstacles faced during session was the in the state was even inability to walk the hallways will never done adapt back and properly engage with legislators remotely, to pre-COVID a drastic and other lobbyists.” times, and change that is no different lobbyists and members to the process which for the Nevada of the public able to required the passage of Legislature. call into hearings to legislation.

Unlike typical provide three-minutes As a lobbyist, one of legislative sessions, the of testimony, which, the biggest obstacles 2021 Nevada legislature in most cases, was an faced during session 8

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was the inability to walk the hallways and properly engage with legislators and other lobbyists. A typical move by lobbyists, the ability to “grab” legislators in the hallways and have brief conversations prior to bill hearings or votes was not possible. While texting has always been a powerful tool, during the 2021 legislative session it was one of the few that we still had in our bag to use. But the ability for a legislature to hide from a lobbyist, or lobbyists to hide from each other, became the new norm, and created quite a challenge.

Now, during the interim, as committee hearings continue to take place, meetings have so far been conducted virtually, with the only option again for the public is to submit written testimony or use the comment period as an opportunity to educate members in Continued on page 11

www.rannv.org • Retail Association of Nevada

RAN Member Business Profile TOTAL SHOW TECHNOLOGY (TST) Las Vegas is Back — And So is TST!

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N ESTIMATED 1.59 MILLION POSITIONS REMAIN unfilled in the hospitality industry. Las Vegas has been particularly hard hit.

After the pandemic shutdowns, however, most of the staff at Las Vegas-based Total Show Technology (TST) returned.

The reason why is simple: TST hires only the best and gives them training opportunities, premium pay, and bonuses that they can’t get anywhere else.

TST’s team has remained loyal to TST because they know TST has their best interests at heart.

In addition to providing gainful employment for 17

talented people, TST plays an active role in the community by supporting Lois, the official comfort dog of First Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in downtown Las Vegas. Lois lives with TST owner Rick Pollock.

Lois brings a calming influence to people at churches, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals, allowing them to open up their hearts and receive the help they need. As one example, Lois and other comfort dogs helped survivors and families after the mass

shooting on the Strip in 2017.

Since 1996, TST has been a leader in the meetings and events industry. As more and more

staffing, laptop rentals, and LED wall and gear rentals.

In the events industry, what you know and who you know are everything.

We know the Pacific

events are scheduled in 2022, TST will continue to set the stage, supporting the Las Vegas community and showcasing the opportunities and experiences that only Las Vegas can offer.

TST is the AV production solution for anyone who hosts, plans, manages, or produces trade shows, conferences, and nightclub live events.

Our services include video, audio, lighting, staging,

Southwest, Las Vegas, and all the venues inside and out. In an industry where almost anything can go wrong, we make sure everything goes right. To learn more, visit totalshowtech.com. ■ If you are a RAN member and would like to be highlighted in the monthly newsletter, please contact the RAN team at info@rannv. org or at 775-882-1700.

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Retail Association of Nevada • www.rannv.org

Important Information for SIG Members NRS requires all existing members of a self-insured group to be notified of all new members.

NRNSIG new members are listed below.

Behavioral Health Associates (Sing, Nguyen) PLLC Better Assets Inc Casillaz Cigars Reno Inc dba Hatuey Cigars Moon Walker Holdings LLC dba Moon Walker Cleaning

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Top of the morning to ye!

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.

Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don’t want to press your luck.

Here’s to good Irish friends—never above you, never below you, always beside you.

May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

NRNSIG members who wish to register a negative vote on a new group member, please write NRNSIG at 575 S. Saliman Road, Carson City, NV 89701, indicating which member and the reason(s) for the negative vote.

“Workers’ comp that works for you” Retail Association of Nevada

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Membership Information: Find out more about RAN’s self insured group. Call Pro Group, 800-859-3177, or the RAN office at 775-882-1700 (toll free in Nevada 800-690-5959).

Don’t forget to check out our website, www.RANNV.org.

www.rannv.org • Retail Association of Nevada

National Notes in the month of January, exceeding economist predictions as a result of inflation reaching a 40year high . Many grocers are working to hold down prices of staple goods to keep customers, but that is becoming for difficult with increases in the cost of milk, eggs and bread.

Grocery Dive

Continued from page 7

WHOLE FOODS INTRODUCING “JUST WALK OUT” SHOPPING In a pilot program in Washington, DC, Whole Foods has opened its first “Just Walk Out” store to provide customers with the choice to skip the checkout. This comes in addition to the Amazon Go stores using the technology.

Progressive Grocer

SUSTAINABILITY INFLUENCING MORE CUSTOMERS In a survey by Cargill, customers report that their interest and awareness in sustainability is becoming a greater factor in purchasing behaviors.

This has created a new challenge for retailers to find a balance between labeling and sourcing of sustainable items in their

stores. For items labeled sustainable, eco-friendly or clean, producers will need to maintain appropriate evidence of their claims and be cautious to accurately represent how their claims apply to products or packaging.

Grocery Dive

“New Normal” Continued from page 8 three-minutes.

In a little less than a year, the 2023 legislative session will commence.

While we just made it through another COVID-19 surge, the pandemic does not seem to be waning and another surge is potentially right around the corner.

It can be hard to anticipate what session might look like, and many questions loom in the minds of a lobbyist.

For example, will we have to show proof of vaccination to enter

the legislative building?

Will there be capacity requirements in place, and if so, who will be allowed in and who will not? Will hybrid hearings continue to take place?

While the hybrid model offers some benefits, the process must be consistent, with everyone allowed the same time and respect.

Will legislators be allowed to use COVID-19 as an excuse to keep lobbyists at bay?

With the world still in an unknown state given the pandemic, it can

be hard to say what the requirements will be. The severity of the pandemic at the time that the legislature gets ready to begin will determine what rules stay in place.

If I had to guess, though, I would say that personal preferences will remain the same. For those of us who still want to wear our masks in public, that will not change.

A mandate in the building, however, will be up to LCB. The shaking of hands may never resume for some of us, and fist

bumps may become the cool new thing. Providing proof of vaccination remains a hotly debated topic, but most likely not something that will be required unless it is mandated on the federal or state level.

And if I had to bet, there is a good chance that Zoom meetings will remain an option.

Until the pandemic ends, if it ever will, the definition of the “new normal” remains synonymous with “uncertainty.” ■

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Nevada News Nevada News is published by the Retail Association of Nevada, a nonpartisan, nonprofit corporation founded in 1969 representing the Retail Community, the Chain Drug Council and the Grocery Industry Council.

Mary F. Lau President/CEO Bryan Wachter Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs Elizabeth MacMenamin Vice President of Government Affairs Piper Brown Director, Finance and Administration Megan Bedera Editor Sue Arzillo, Alphabet Soup Inc. Newsletter Design & Layout

How Working From Home is Changing Consumer Behavior

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T’S NO SURPRISE THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST DISRUPTORS TO physical retail has been ecommerce. But let’s not forget working from home.

Lee Peterson, executive vice president of thought leadership and marketing at WD Partners, shared results of a recent survey on the topic during NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show. During his presentation — “Retail Supernova” was a featured session on January 18 on

National Retail Federation

the StarWind Stage — Peterson wondered aloud why the work-from-home phenomenon wasn’t more widely covered at the event, noting that consumers are now thinking differently, because they’re in a different place.

The WD Partners report is available for free download.

The WD Partners study, conducted in summer

2021, involved 2,700 consumers in the United States, sticking largely to the “center of the bell curve” demographically. In 2020, 83 percent of those

consumers worked from home about 50 percent of

the time (65 percent have been required to work from home at some point).

This year, however, 60 percent projected they’d work from home 50 percent of the time, and 40 percent said they’d work from home about 25 percent of the time. But get this: Zero percent said they would go back to an office five days a week.

And the impact of that, he said, “is far-reaching.” ■