One rosy step at a time for PH retail

How have the country’s top retail companies coped with low foot traffic during the pandemic, and how are they enticing shoppers back into their stores?

The Philippines has yet to see the prepandemic vitality of its retail sector, but the improving COVID-19 situation in the country bodes well for retailers who are looking to recover lost sales during months of lockdown.

“We expect a slow but careful recovery by next year, hoping that no future lockdowns and no surge of a new virus variant will occur,” said Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) president Rosemarie Bosch-Ong in an email interview with Inquirer Property.

The easing of restrictions, which resulted in more mobility, and the continuous vaccination drives have given retailers a more optimistic though still cautious outlook.

To be more competitive and resilient, “frictionless omnichannel retailing” is a must for retailers, Ong suggested. “Retailers who can provide consumers a seamless shopping experience that combines the best of both online and physical stores are seen to thrive and win during this transformative time in retail.”

The traditional brick-and-mortar stores will remain relevant, according to Ong, despite the fact that the past two years have seen a boom in e-commerce and online platforms as people shopped for essentials from the safety of their homes.

“Shoppers, especially Filipinos, still prefer to shop personally to see, touch and check first-hand the products we intend to buy,” she added.