The coronavirus pandemic greatly disrupted the retail sector, on which it may have a lasting impact.
When COVID-19 swept across the nation last March, supermarkets had to scramble to figure out how to keep in-demand items like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bread and cleaning supplies in stock while ramping up home delivery and curbside pickup. Other shops deemed non-essential had to come up with new ideas on how to keep revenue coming in the door when the state ordered them closed, such as turning to e-commerce, engaging more with clientele on social media and selling gift cards that could be redeemed later to loyal customers.