Retail Trade Groups Test Post-Pandemic Strategies

The consortium is made up of GMDC’s Retail Tomorrow, the International Housewares Association and the National Grocers Association (NGA). The group has not announced any formal ties but it has issued an open letter to their members and the retail industry at large urging them to include non-essential retail in their advocacy efforts and communications.

While “certain segments and categories within the retail industry are rising to the challenge of meeting sudden shifts in consumer needs — such as grocery, household cleaning supplies and personal care products — others are getting left behind, particularly smaller suppliers in non-essential categories,” the letter reads. “As we attend to the immediate needs of the consumer, we must also protect the future of our industry to ensure there is a diverse pipeline of non-essential products for consumers as needs stabilize again. Indeed, many of these non-essential products are needed now more than ever and remain necessary for all who have been subject to the shelter-in-place/safer-at-home orders. As consumers seek more comfort and home improvement, we are seeing a renewed focus on non-essential products — such as hair trimmers/shavers, toaster ovens and pet products — that is even greater than the resurgence following the last recession.”

The group is focused on uniting for the benefit of Tier 3 retailers and suppliers of non-essential goods. It has created resource materials to communicate widespread support for this group.