As the pandemic has continued to restrict social gatherings and indoor activities, one faction of the economy that’s been hit particularly hard are small retailers. Local stores and restaurants play a crucial role not only in the local economy, but also in an area’s identity.
This has sparked efforts over the past several months to push customers to “shop small,” and that movement is set to culminate in this year’s Small Business Saturday. Deloitte’s recent holiday shopping forecast found that, on average, consumers are planning to shop within 9.6 miles of their home — closer than in years past.
While this demonstrates a desire to shop small, it’s important for small businesses to be able to create a shopping experience that makes customers feel safe. There are some in-store technologies that could keep both workers and shoppers protected.