Page 28 - February 2022

GLOBAL 2022 RETAIL FORECAST

A CASE FOR OPTIMISM

Covid-19 has changed the way people live and work and these changes are becoming
more and more evident in the retail, e-commerce, hospitality and F&B sectors. Over
the next few pages, RLI will take a closer look at the key trends that consumers can
expect to see across the industry in 2022.

obody was prepared for the Covid-19 pandemic, how mix of digital and physical shopping behaviours that were new for
could they be? How do retail brands plan for all their everyone. What will 2022 bring…
N stores to be open one day and shut the next, how Retail Sector
do online brands suddenly account for the exponential increase A prominent article from Retail Dive entitled ’10 Retail Trends
in-demand from people who have more free time and additional to Watch in 2022’ highlights many important key points that
expendable income, and how do F&B and hospitality venues plan retailers need to consider for this year, but three in particular
for functions and events only to be told people must stay at home stand out. These are the need for companies to invest in their
except for essential shopping? supply chain, understanding the purpose of the store and to find
Once lockdown’s took effect around the world, the remainder the right balance of wholesale and DTC sales.
of 2020 was about responding to the almost-overnight migration In terms of a company’s supply chain, this year could be a year
to online shopping. 2021 saw companies adapt. Digital shopping for evaluating, rethinking and investing in supply chains in the long
was the “new norm” but then, as lockdowns and restrictions term. Until recently, they have often been an underfunded part of
eased around the world, companies had to learn to adapt to a the retail organisation, however, their importance was highlighted

28 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 2022