While retail executives are keen to state they do not plan to abandon bricks-and-mortar retail entirely, many now tend to see it on equal terms with online operations. Main street, hollowed out by web-based competition, is increasingly viewed as a tool to be used by consumers “showrooming” – browsing – before buying online for less.
The cost in jobs is stark, with Macy’s saying it expects to see 10,000 workers laid off, including 6,200 managers, or 17% of executives.
I think that's the key. It also means they're going to have to stop under-training their employees. As someone tech savvy, I avoid places like Best Buy like the plague, even though their prices are often competitive with Amazon. But since their people don't know what they're talking about, why bother? At the same time, I went to Home Depot yesterday, hoping to actually find something that could confirm what I think I need to fix, but there were like 4 employees in the whole store. I went there specifically to get some advice, but again they failed to deliver. I hope they learn.