We’re back! And by that, I mean we’re back with another edition of Fish Insights and some version of a pandemic lockdown. (In the words of Phil Connors, aka: Bill Murray, “Well, it’s Groundhog Day … again.) This month’s Fish Insights focus on everything you’d expect to read about 4.5 months into a pandemic that just won’t go away, but we’re also starting to see some good news — like the rise in home renovations because people are experiencing “space shame” on Zoom calls. So, hey, good for you, general contractors! ???????? ???????? ????????
As always, we’d love to hear what you think about Fish Insights. Feel free to shoot me an email at adavidson@fish-consulting.com if you love it or have ideas for how we can improve it.
Restaurants
- According to Yelp’s Economic Average report, 60% of the more than 26,000 restaurants that temporarily closed in the last five months have shuttered permanently. L (Business Insider)
- Union Square Hospitality Group, which led the discussion around no-tipping policies, is reversing its stance amid the pandemic. (The New York Times)
- A third-party delivery service focused on mom-and-pop Asian restaurants raised $33 million from investors. (TechCrunch)
Travel & Hospitality
- In search of a new revenue stream, some hotels are now catering to a new customer: the “tired-of-working-from-home” guest. (CNN)
- Before you book your next hotel stay, read this. (Reader’s Digest)
- The American Hotel & Lodging Association is lobbying for a national mask mandate to require guests to wear face coverings in public areas of hotels. (Skift)
Fitness, Health, & Wellness
- A doctor shared a super easy tip for making your face mask fit better. (Travel + Leisure)
- 59% of Americans don’t plan to renew their gym memberships, saying that the pandemic helped them find more affordable ways to exercise. ???? (CNBC)
- COVID-19 may not be affecting most kids physically, but the impact on their mental health is a growing issue. (TIME)
Home Services
- More people are turning to virtual home repairs amid the pandemic. (FOX 13 Salt Lake City)
- Believe it or not, Zoom calls are leading to a rise in home renovations. (MSN)
- Demand for MERV-13 air filters — the ones needed to combat the spread of coronavirus — is up tenfold. (Fortune)
Retail
- In lieu of a national mask mandate, major retail chains are requiring customers and employees to wear face coverings. And the list is growing by the day. (The New York Times)
- As the economy reopens, then closes again, retailers see opportunity in subscription boxes. (RetailDive)
- Retail sales in Canada return to pre-pandemic levels. (You go, Canada!) (Bloomberg via Yahoo! Finance)
Beauty
- Manicurists, hair stylists, and other personal service providers are making house calls now. But is it safer? (The New York Times)
- Target created a badge to help shoppers identify Black-owned or -founded beauty brands. (Allure)
- Despite the pandemic, beauty brands aren’t giving up on brick-and-mortar. (Glossy)
