Greenville-Spartanburg retail posts positive absorption amidst pandemic
Key Takeaways
- Due to vacant shop space deliveries overshadowing the positive absorption and ongoing effects of COVID-19 during the second quarter of 2020, the quarterly vacancy rate increased from 10.25% during the first quarter of 2020 to 11.15% this quarter.
- Retailers are altering their shops and restaurants in order to provide a safe environment and positive experience for all consumers.
Providing new options for customers
In an attempt to continue conducting business throughout the pandemic, many restaurants now have opened for indoor business, but with only half of the tables available for seating to customers. In addition, parking lots are often partially blocked off to accommodate outdoor seating. Online platforms have been updated for ease of use and walk-up or drive-thru options have been implemented in order to enhance productiveness.
Retailers are spacing out their indoor merchandise and having sidewalk sales so customers are able to shop in person. However, fitting rooms are mostly unavailable, but return policies have been relaxed in order to raise the customer comfort level of “buying before trying.” Businesses are also limiting the number of shoppers at a given time, setting up sanitizing stations and reinforcing mandatory masks upon entering the establishment in order to provide a safe environment and positive experience for all shoppers.
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