It’s fair to say some of the crystal balls we were using to predict 2020 in retail at the end of last year have now been proven cracked by current events. Not just a “usual” economic downturn, social distancing and self-isolation practices and the concomitant increase in online living will result in longer-term behavioural and mindset changes with ramifications for retail and consumer buying patterns beyond the current “essentials only” crisis. Stepping back in time If the Roaring Twen