What are the current problems faced by retail industry ?

Question

I am about to choose a topic for my dissertation. I am looking for a niche problem in retail industry which needs to be investigated. Please provide some inputs

Answer 1

the major problem is the employees are one step up from fast food mentality.

the second is gas is too high to go shopping when you can buy everything on line including U P S cheaper.

the third thing rents, utilities and taxes are killing stores

the fourth thing is theft its losses retailers can no longer afford

the fifth shopping is it's a waste of time when store have no pride, they are all a mess!

the sixth is cosmetic counters, shoe departments, suits,  major appliances and furniture departments pay commission to the sales personnel why pay they commissions when on line is all that and more cheaper?

You see I see the counties and major cities having to deal with emptying malls becoming ghost towns and they should look to moving all the mission kitchens and the homeless and shelters into them as they empty out. Retail I left it seeing the writing on the wall over forty years ago.

Answer 2

a poor economy.  we're  spending our money on higher gas prices and higher food prices, yet our salaries aren't being raised. we start to cut back on things that aren't as necessary and seen more as luxuries.

Answer 3

lack of customers who have no money to buy the goods.  therefore, not a lot of hours can be given to the lowliest of their employees, and there might even be some layoffs. and with not a lot of employees, stores cannot be manned that well, eg. one employee per department who is just manning the register while the other wares are left unattended and unkempt thereby discouraging the remaining customers who will choose to take her business to a competitor that hopefully does not experience the same problems.

Answer 4

I think the biggest problem right now is that people have less disposable income.  I'm sure that has affected retailers.  The economy is in the toilet.