Top Retailers in the United States: A Changing Landscape of Space Demand in a Post-COVID Era

Abstract

The retail sector in the United States has been undergoing a paradigm shift, predominantly driven by digitalization and further accelerated by the disruptive forces of the pandemic. This study examines the dynamic space needs of top retailers in the U.S. within the context of the post-COVID era. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative analyses, including macro research and pairwise comparisons of key financials and physical space metrics of 83 listed U.S. retail companies during a time period from 2017 to 2022. The research reveals a significant shifting of revenues towards e-commerce, and a substantial correlation between revenues in different channels and the space need of physical stores and distribution facilities. By delving into the data and models, the thesis provides potential applications and insights into how the stakeholders within the industry could leverage the findings to plan and adapt in an evolving retail landscape.