What: A post-modern review of what it took for department stores to go through the pandemic.

Why it is important: While this article is not ground-breaking, it is a nice reminder of the extent of transformation department stores went through because of this event.

Department stores, which have faced challenges due to the rise of online retail and the decline of malls, adopted various strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic to stay afloat. These strategies include:

1. **Curbside Pickup**: This enabled customers to order online and collect purchases from the store's parking area. While this existed pre-pandemic, its use significantly increased during lockdowns, highlighting the importance of customer safety.
2. **Extended Product Return Windows**: By giving customers more time to return products, stores ensured customer satisfaction and loyalty.
3. **Virtual Try-On Technology**: This allowed customers to virtually try on products from home, reducing the need for physical store visits. It gained popularity during the pandemic and is likely to continue being valuable post-pandemic.

The success of department stores in navigating the pandemic was largely due to their ability to adapt and innovate. By restructuring operations, enhancing efficiency, and reducing business risks, stores that were adaptable retained customer trust and loyalty. Moving forward, department stores can capitalize on their strengths, such as a wide range of products and brand history, and stay attuned to consumer trends to reclaim their relevance in the evolving retail landscape.

Department stores survived the pandemic thanks to adaptation and innovation