In today’s top retail news, American Express is launching new offers to start off the year, while the chief economist for the National Retail Federation says the stimulus will help with the continuing recovery. Plus, brick-and-mortar retailers in the U.K. suffering from pandemic restrictions before Christmas also saw foot traffic plummet in the Boxing Day/post-Christmas period.
American Express Introduces New Promotions To Kick off 2021
American Express is rolling out new offers for the U.S. consumer, small business and co-brand cardmembers, as well as small merchants, to start the year amid COVID-19. Eligible U.S. consumer platinum cardmembers will receive “even more value” through eCommerce by the way of new offers available until June 30, according to an announcement.
NRF Economist: Stimulus Will Help With Ongoing Recovery
Even though economic difficulty brought by the pandemic will continue in 2021, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said in a statement that the stimulus passed at the end of 2020 will help with accelerating the nation’s ongoing recovery. “We expect retail sales spending to see a boost from the new round of stimulus,” Kleinhenz noted.
COVID-19 Plays Grinch To UK Post-Christmas Retail Sales
Physical retailers in Britain already reeling from coronavirus restrictions in the lead-up to Christmas also saw foot traffic rapidly fall in the important Boxing Day/post-Christmas timeframe. “The end of the festive trading period and tightened government restrictions unsurprisingly saw footfall in U.K. retail destinations drop significantly at the end of 2020,” Springboard Insights Director Diane Wehrle said, according to a published report.
Five Alternative Tenants That Could Save Dying Shopping Malls
The usual shopping center composed of merchants, a food court and possibly a hair salon or two is going extinct. However, experts say they can survive – and even do well – if they change themselves into a collection of cool merchants and restaurants, housing, co-working areas, walk-in medical clinics and even special attractions such as aquariums.
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