Retailers and restaurants no longer face the looming threat of government shutdowns, but they are struggling with lean workforces and limited inventory.
sent an apology email to customers this week, acknowledging customer complaints about long checkout lines, out-of-stock items and delays for Covid vaccine or test appointments. In the note, the company's leaders mentioned the many tasks that pharmacy staff are juggling — namely, giving over 55 million Covid vaccines and more than 23 million Covid tests, while still filling over a billion prescriptions annually.
Morgan Harris owns Green Bambino, a Oklahoma City store that sells baby supplies including onesies, diapers and toys. She said she has had to toss out one of the cardinal rules of retail as she operates with a staff of four people – less than half the 10 to 15 person staff she expected to have. The store has had to switch its schedule. It is now open five days a week instead of seven.
Harris, however, said she worries Green Bambino may have to cope with a leaner staff, even as its sales jump. Its annual revenue grew to nearly $900,000 last year — 23% higher than 2020 and 14% higher than pre-pandemic sales in 2019. "I don't feel like I'm reinventing the business every two weeks like I was in 2020, but we have no idea what businesses we will have to run post-pandemic," she said."The uncertainty is here to stay several more months, if not longer."A customer waits for a contactless curbside pickup at the Recreational Equipment Inc. flagship store in Seattle, Washington, U.S., on Thursday, May 14, 2020.
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