No pants, no problem, thanks to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Due to an increase in working from home as people hunker down to wait out the spread of COVID-19, Walmart has reported selling more tops than bottoms.
Apparently, teleworkers have adapted quickly to the new style trend: business up top, anything goes below.
“We’re seeing increased sales in tops, but not bottoms. People who are concerned, obviously, from the waist up,” Dan Bartlett, Walmart’s executive vice president of corporate affairs, told Yahoo Finance. “These behaviours are going to continue to change and evolve as people get accustomed to this new lifestyle.”
He said the store is seeing a “massive volume” of online orders now. Aside from an influx of top purchases, they’re also selling tons of in-home entertainment and crafting items.
“I think we’ve sold over 30 million popsicle sticks,” he said.
Gap Inc. has reported a similar trend across its brands, Gap, Athleta and Old Navy, according to CBS News.
While people are buying pants, they aren’t buying trousers. Instead, Gap Inc. has seen an influx in sales of leggings, sweatshirts, sleepwear and other comfortable clothing perfect for working from home.
“Our brands have seen an increase in searches for loungewear, sweaters, and other clothing that is well suited for at-home wear,” a spokesperson told the publication.
Other brands, like Everlane, are responding to the uptick in comfy clothes shopping by offering “Bundles of Comfort,” allowing shoppers to grab comfy clothes at a lower cost.
Many companies have been forced to lay off workers in response to COVID-19, but Walmart has said it plans to hire 150,000 new hourly associates in the U.S., Yahoo Finance says.
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Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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