Many explanations have been floated for the recent challenges faced by brick-and-mortar retailers, particularly department stores. The usual suspects include: competition from e-Commerce (even though most department stores also are omnichannel operations); the lingering effects of the recession; and fast fashion and discount/outlet retailers cutting into these stores’ traditional traffic generators, apparel and footwear.
There’s also a simpler, though possibly more disturbing, idea floating around: that there are just too many brick-and-mortar stores operating in the U.S. today.
