RETAIL.

• Author: Hardy, Troy

THE ONLY CONSTANT IN RETAIL FOR 2020 WAS CHANGE. With a year defined by a pandemic and resulting restrictions, the evolution of retail quickened with an "adapt or die" mentality. Big boxes like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot moved to buy online and pick up in-store "BOPIS" platforms while restaurants scrambled to quickly transition to apps, delivery services, and drive-thrus. For some retailers, the COVID-19 crisis was the Impetuous for successful, long-term change. However, many shops continue to hang on and hope for a return to the good old days.

After a year with a lot of bad news, this story begins with positivity! In 2020, basic necessities were prioritized as people prepared for the unexpected. In March, Womply. com, which monitors grocery store spending across the United States, reported that Utah residents were the nation's number one panic grocery store shoppers. In turn, the state's grocery stores and big-box wholesalers saw a nearly 300 percent increase In sales over 2019 and struggled to keep food, cleaning supplies, and of course, toilet paper on the shelves.

Home Depot and Lowe's saw same-store sales Increase by 24 percent and 30 percent, respectively, in the third quarter of 2020 as homeowners scrambled to build home offices, convert garages to home gyms, and finish lingering DIY projects. This COVID nesting gave home goods retailers like Target and TJ Maxx a strong shot In the arm as well. With gyms closing and consumers looking at other options to safely exercise, sporting goods stores also saw substantial gains during the pandemic. In June 2020, the research firm NPD Group recorded bike sales up 63 percent and paddle sports, such as kayaks and paddleboards, up 56 percent. Even golf equipment sales jumped by 51 percent when compared to the same-store sales of 2019.

Other winners of 2020 Included drive-thru restaurants and soda shops. It was not uncommon to see 20-plus cars lined up at the Thirst soda shop near my home at all hours of the day. In September, QSR Magazine reported that nationally, drive-thru visits were up nearly 30 percent over 2019. Because of drive-thru growth, many local fast-casual restaurants, such as Cafe Rio are prioritizing drive-thru in expansion, relocation, and the remodel of existing restaurants. This new approach also applies to other national fast-casual concepts, such as Panera, Famous Dave's, Shake Shack, and Chipotle.

It comes as no surprise that online retailers also did well in 2020...