(TOM)
LOCAL BUSINESSES
ARE STRUGGLING AS
HAMPTON ROADS
CONTINUES TO
OPERATE UNDER
TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS
IMPOSED BY THE
GOVERNOR OVER A
MONTH AGO.
IN TODAY'S
CORONAVIRUS DIGITAL
DISCUSSION ON-LINE 10
ON YOUR SIDE'S
STEPHANIE HARRIS
TALKED WITH THE
PRESIDENT AND C-E-O
OF THE LOCAL RETAIL
ALLIANCE ABOUT THE
LANDSCAPE FOR LOCAL
BUSINESS.
(STEPHANIE)
IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO
SHOP RECENTLY YOU
MAY HAVE SEEN YOUR
FAVORITE STORE IS
CLOSED OR GOING OUT
OF BUSINESS.
RAY MATTES FROM THE
RETAIL ALLIANCE TOLD
ME ALREADY THIS YEAR
WE'VE SEEN 26 MAJOR
NATIONAL RETAIL
CHAINS CLOSE .
BY COMPARISON 17
CLOSED IN ALL OF LAST
YEAR.
AND RESTAURANTS
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE
GREATEST
CHALLENGES.
(STEPHANIE HARRIS)
RAY MATTES/RETAIL
ALLIANCE, PRESIDENT
& CEO
"THEY ARE REALLY JUST
TRYING TO STAY ALIVE
TO BE ABLE TO PAY AND
TAKE CARE OF THEIR
STAFF THEIR PROFIT
MARGINS HAVE JUST
BEEN HAMMERED...
HAMMERED."
AS BUSINESSES LOOK
FOR NEW WAYS TO
STAY AFLOAT.
MANY OF THEIR
CUSTOMERS ARE
JUMPING SHIP AND
GOING ONLINE
RAY MATTES/RETAIL
ALLIANCE, PRESIDENT
& CEO
THERE'S BEEN A 71%
GROWTH IN DIGITAL
SALES THIS YEAR AS
OPPOSED TO LAST
YEAR, THERE'S BEEN A
40% INCREASE ON NEW
CUSTOMERS THAT ARE
NEW TO COMMERCE
MANY SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE
BEEN FORCED TO MOVE
INTO COMMERCE
SOONER THEN THEY
WANTED.
RAY MATTES/RETAIL
ALLIANCE, PRESIDENT
& CEO
THE BOTTOM LINE IS
THAT A LOT OF THESE
BRICK AND MORTARS,
THEY'RE GOING TO
ACTUALLY BE MORE
FULFILLMENT
CENTERS."
'
AS THE HOLIDAYS
APPROACH THESE
RETAILERS WILL HAVE
TO KEEP CLOSE WATCH
ON INVENTORY AND
DEAL WITH DECISIONS
ON SHIPPING COSTS --
MATTES PREDICTS
BACK UPS WITH BOTH
DELIVERY AND
INVENTORY.
RAY MATTES/RETAIL
ALLIANCE, PRESIDENT
& CEO
YOU'RE RIGHT,
CONSUMERS ARE
GOING TO NEED TO BUY
EARLIER TO ELIMINATE
OUT OF STOCK ITEMS
IT'S NOT ALL BAD NEWS
THOUGH, THE ROYAL
CHOCOLATE IN VIRGINIA
BEACH FOR EXAMPLE -
TWEAKED ITS POPULAR
BUILD YOUR OWN
CANDY BAR EVENT TO
MAIL ORDER.
MATTES SAYS OTHERS
HAVE GOTTEN
CREATIVE TOO - SOME
EVEN STARTING
SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSES MASK
MAKING OR CLEANING
OFFICES.
MATTES CAN'T PREDICT
WHAT THE LOCAL
RETAIL LANDSCAPE
WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN
THIS IS ALL OVER BUT
THIS HE BELIEVES...
RAY MATTES/RETAIL
ALLIANCE, PRESIDENT
& CEO
I BELIEVE IN THIS
COUNTRY, I BELIEVE IN
CAPITALISM:
I BELIEVE THAT OUR
MEMBERS OUR
RETAILERS ARE VERY
INGENIOUS VERY
CREATIVE AND I DON'T
WANT TO SAY THEY'RE
STUBBORN BUT
DETERMINED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL :
(STEPHANIE)
YOU CAN SEE OUR
ENTIRE INTERVIEW
RIGHT NOW ON
WAVY.COM
AND REMEMBER TO
JOIN ME ON WAVY.COM
OR OUR WAVY
FACEBOOK PAGE AS WE
EXAMINE ISSUES
SURROUNDING THE
PANDEMIC.
OUR CORONAVIRUS
DIGITAL DISCUSSIONS
GO LIVE AT 1PM EACH
MONDAY.
STEPHANIE HARRIS 10
