Photo: Getty Images. Illustration: Inc. Magazine
The retail industry has undergone a revolution in the past year, presenting unique opportunities for businesses that know how to adapt quickly.
"This is probably the most exciting time of retail of the last 100 years or so. There's a lot to be optimistic about," said Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify, in a virtual panel at Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Summit on Tuesday. Finkelstein, whose Ottawa, Ontario-based company sells software that lets users create online stores, said that rapid changes to e-commerce and direct-to-consumer sales during the pandemic have created a retail landscape that might have otherwise not existed until 2030. And while so many businesses suffered in the past year, some not only stayed afloat but grew.