Bruno 1

Sayge Bruno

Mrs. Cramer

College Comp

11 March, 2022

Continuous Negatives of COVID-19

The average human’s daily life has dramatically evolved into something abnormal in the

sense of extreme use of technology and economic disparities. Not long ago, the thought of such

change in the world was out of reach and did not seem to be a possibility. Along with simple

changes in the world such as verbal communication adjustments and distancing from others, the

spreading virus has not only contaminated immune systems but the success levels of local and

widely known businesses. It has brought upon increasing food prices resulting in worries within

the public. The shopping industry has been negatively affected due to COVID-19 and the

expanding use of technology, causing worries about food prices increasing, new companies

struggling to open and old ones closing.

Although food prices were increasing before the pandemic, COVID-19 has made the

process more acute. There has been higher shipping costs and disruption within supply chains

that were assumed to be temporary but are seeming indefinite. From a statistical standpoint, the

IRA’s data concludes that 25% of households have trouble purchasing groceries and other

necessities while being in the financial positions they’re in. Along with being incapable of easily

supplying their families with the products they need, a number of respondents said they were in

no other position but to make sacrifices to make ends meet. The amount of people has increased

within the last year going from 43% to 46% (Racher Press, Inc, 5). With prices of food and
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supplies growing, the ability for households to comfortably purchase things while having other

financial responsibilities is taking a toll on all communities being affected by the pandemic -

resulting in stress for parents and guardians unable to provide for their families. In another study,

80% of dunnhumby respondents said that they are trying to take part in finding value in food

shopping. Out of this number of respondents, 52% said they felt obligated to shop at Every Day-

Low Pricing stores due to the fact that prices of foods and groceries are being maximized and

they cannot afford it elsewhere (Racher Press, Inc, 6). A large number of households were

struggling to financially make ends meet prior to the outbreak so with the hardships of the

pandemic, many households have had to endure the stress and instability of prices of food -

causing unwanted worrying. s

The negative affects of COVID-19 were not only applied to rising prices of food and

products, but also standing companies trying to stay open for business. When the pandemic first

quarantined majority of the world, technology was turned to for a sense of entertainment or

connection to others. It was put to use for several reasons, but technology was also transformed

into a way to shop from home. There was no reason to leave the house or start the car for

something that could be ordered online and shipped to the front door. The process was useful and

important at the time since most stores were closed and there was no way of getting things that

were wanted, but over a short period of time it became a parasite to the shopping industry. In a

source written by Alvarez, it says “The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the economy.”

A large count of brick-and-mortar stores are having complications with putting out

advertisements and keeping the shopping world convenient for customers. In result to the

pandemic and the change to online shopping, more than 8,700 British chain stores have had no

option other than closing within the first half of the 2021 year (Guardian News & Media, 1). To
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stay confident in keeping store fronts open, businesses are having to adapt to the online world

and make changes to their average way of running things. It becomes challenging to stay

connected to customers that prefer to shop online whilst still putting effort towards the people

continuing to shop in person. Surviving in the shopping industry has come to point where

businesses must track and observe the patterns shown by customers and use it to their advantage

(Alvarez, 9). The numbers provided from studies have supported the belief that the use of

technology has forever ruined the chances of successful store front businesses. In a study

performed by the Local Data Company it says that the “number of chain shop closures far

outpaced the number of new openings.” This meaning that the numbers dramatically declined by

what they say is around 5,200 stores (Guardian News & Media, 2) The usage of technology has

officially changed the ways of the shopping industry and business are struggling to stay open

because of it.

Along with existing businesses having difficulties staying open for the public, new

businesses are having troubles opening. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has created an

extreme increase in the use of technology – mostly for families and households to shop from

home. This was convenient in ways, but there are negative aspects of it as well. Though the

quantity of stores closing were higher than new ones opening, the number of people looking to

start a business or open a store front feel unable to do so. A study also conducted by the Local

Data Company states that within the beginning of 2021, about 3,500 new stores opened. This

number was the lowest it ever has been since the year 2016 (Guardian News & Media, 5). Since

then, the hardships of the pandemic and the extreme use of technology have created obstacles

that are challenging for new businesses to endure. They don’t feel confident that their businesses

can be successful, especially with the amount of money needed to be invested for advertisement
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online and in person. There are more factors to be considered than ever before and it has become

a difficult situation for all parties involved.

Ultimately, the COVID-19 outbreak and expanding use of technology has negatively

affected the shopping industry, causing worries about food prices increasing, new companies

struggling to open and old ones closing. It has brought upon stress and confusion to a number of

people for a set a reasons and this can be seen through the worrying of the public about food

prices increasing. There are certain households unaware if they can provide. The pandemic has

been destructive to the economy and low-class households are getting the rath of it. Along with

food prices increasing, the pandemic has forced multiple people to turn to technology for online

shopping. It was useful at the time but now has negatively affected businesses fighting to keep

their doors open. The number of new stores opening were previously low, so with COVID-19

creating a dependent use of technology, the amount of new businesses has taken a negative toll

and may never recover. The negative effects of the pandemic have now outweighed the positives.
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Works Cited

Alvarez, Marcus. "COVID-19 and the online shopping phenomenon." UWIRE Text, 4 Oct.
2021, p. 1. Gale Academic OneFile,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/A677869631/AONE?u=pl1949&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=182fda2b.
Accessed 10 Dec. 2021.
"More than 8,700 chain stores have closed in 2021, analysis shows; Pandemic and shift to online
shopping has hit demand for high-street shops, with fashion stores the worst affected." Guardian
[London, England], 5 Sept. 2021, p. NA. Gale Academic OneFile,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/A676302413/AONE?u=pl1949&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=8a6632a3.
Accessed 10 Dec. 2021.
"Shopping behaviors become permanent." Chain Drug Review, vol. 43, no. 7, 26 Apr. 2021, p.
55. Gale Academic OneFile,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/A661255826/AONE?u=pl1949&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=6fcf6224.
Accessed 10 Dec. 2021.