Ron Johnson, CEO of Enjoy, believes that new shopping and working habits brought about by COVID-19 are likely to remain permanent.

During a recent Retail Gets Real podcast produced by the National Retail Federation, Johnson said the pandemic has speeded the arrival of trends some foresaw coming in five to 10 years.

“It’s like we moved five years ahead of time overnight,” Johnson said.

Asked to predict how retail will change, Johnson said:

• More people will save time and money shopping online.
• More people will continue to work from home.
• Online shopping has turned browsers into buyers. It could make shoppers more focused when they shop in stores and reduce the majority of shoppers who browse instead of buy.
• Christmas could be a success this year. There’s pent up demand to feel better, online shopping is safer and more convenient and employed people who have not been traveling have money to spend as a result.
• There will be fewer stores that will be more successful as competition recedes after some competitors go out of business.

Johnson’s company brings technology items to shoppers’ homes for demonstrations, training and purchase. His partners whose products he sells pay transportation costs in the belief that making shopping less tiring and more convenient will results in sales. The podcast is here.