NREI
For years, discount retailers like T.J. Maxx and Ross have been eating their rivals’ lunch as consumers warmed to the thrill of shopping as a treasure hunt experience.
But Covid-19 has revealed a key weakness in the discount playbook: almost no e-commerce.
Now, these off-price retailers, which were among the few outlets to add locations in recent years, are finding that a pandemic means a full halt to operations. The beleaguered department stores, meanwhile, can still rely on their websites for at least some revenue. . . . more
