Has the pandemic spurned the end of experiential retailing?

Has the pandemic spurned the end of experiential retailing? To go shopping means waiting in tedious queues due to the limits of in-store visitors and having your temperature checked once inside (see Apple). Floors marked with yellow and black sticker tape remind us we must keep our distance from others. What if someone in close proximity sneezes? We follow direction arrows because in-store traffic is now routed one-way only. Vast tubs of hand sanitizer welcome you upon entry, along with a list of ‘tips’ for how to avoid contracting Covid-19. Masked and gloved staff patrol the aisles to ensure customers abide by the rules. And the most off-putting of all, giant sheets of plastic dangling between you and a cashier at the tills. All the joy has been seeped out of shopping.