Published Paper Details:

Indian retailers are now days faced with a multitude of challenges � �now�, �next�, and �beyond�. We are currently in the �now� phase where the most retailers are coping with a complete pause in business. Even food and grocery players and chemists, that deal with essential commodities, although allowed to operate now, are also facing challenges. These challenges include managing consumer demand, ensuring of liquidity, supply chain disruptions, management of store operations to ensure that social distancing and proper hygiene, governance issues, and ensuring the health and safety of employees. While the essentials (personal care, food and beverage, home care) would be the lesser impacted, health and economic concerns would rather reduce consumer confidence and their spending on non-essential goods (apparel, furniture) and high ticket items (consumer electronics, jewellery). In the medium term, or the �next� phase, where the government starting easing restrictions, retailers will need to focus on bouncing back from the current situation. In the long-term �beyond� phase, they also need to focus on transforming to succeed in a new business landscape. The challenges would be seen as to cater to consumers via their preferred channels and to build business resiliency to operate with smoothly during any future crises.