As the $4.4 trillion U.S. retail sector deploys strategies such as increasing warehousing, repurposing existing stores and incorporating new technologies, it is creating opportunities for leasing and other financing solutions, according to a new study in the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s Vertical Market Outlook Series.

The new study, titled “Vertical Market Outlook Series: Retail,” focuses on the rapidly evolving retail landscape, which is being driven by consumer demand for flexibility in how, when and what they purchase. It is the sixth release of the ELFF’s Vertical Market Outlook Series, which was designed to help readers recognize and understand opportunities and challenges that may affect their businesses.

The report, commissioned by the ELFF and prepared by Engine Group, consists of data and research from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Retail Federation, Deloitte and McKinsey. Among the range of issues examined in the study are:

• The macroeconomic environment (labor/employment, impact of COVID-19)
• Trends in retail operations (supply chain innovation, new store formats)
• Increasing roles for technology (digital technology, robotics, data management)
• The impact on small and mid-size retailers (customer-facing innovations)

“COVID, technology innovations and consumer demands are driving dramatic changes in the U.S. retail sector that pose numerous challenges and opportunities for the equipment finance industry,” Tom Ware, research committee chair for the ELFF, said. “The range of information and analysis in this study provides critical market intelligence for equipment finance professionals to use in their strategic planning and decision-making.”