A new national survey of independent retailers finds that shifts in the retail sector are playing out differently for specialty retailers than they are for chain, according to the American Specialty Retailing Association (ASTRA). Two-thirds of survey respondents report that their smaller size and greater understanding of their local markets makes them more nimble than national chains and better positioned to respond to shifts in their sector.
The survey, conducted by Advocates for Independent Business (AIB), gathered data from over 850 independent retailers in 49 states in the U.S. Their responses provided insight to they perceive the way their distinct attributes set them apart from retail chains and online retailers such as Amazon.