Some workers at Amazon warehouses such as this one in the Staten Island borough of New York City have been trying to organize, facing stiff opposition from the company. Amazon workers in Alabama have now petitioned to form a union. Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
People wait in line outside for their turn to enter the JD Sports store in New York City on Nov. 5. Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Heather Wilcox-Nicholls lost her job with Mattress Firm during the pandemic. She had been with the company for about five years and was about to take on a new store as a manager. Krista Rossow for NPR hide caption
What role should retailers play in pushing for harsher penalties for people caught shoplifting? erhui1979/Getty Images hide caption
Shoppers stroll through the newly reopened Westfield Santa Anita mall in Arcadia, Calif., on Oct. 7. Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
People walk through the newly reopened mall at Hudson Yards in New York. U.S. shoppers spent more prudently in August and retail sales grew a tepid 0.6% from July. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption
A shopper walks past shelves of school supplies at a Target store in San Rafael, Calif. Preparing for both in-person and virtual learning has families budgeting for new school supplies and bigger purchases. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
A pedestrian walks by Saks Fifth Avenue as New York City continues relaxing more restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images hide caption
An employee works inside a Jos. A. Bank retail store in San Francisco. The parent company Tailored Brands earlier said it would close up to 500 stores and cut 20% of corporate jobs. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
A woman walks out of Lord & Taylor's flagship store in Manhattan in June 2018, before the location was closed and the building was sold in 2019. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption
An Ann Taylor store in New York City in 2015. Ascena Retail Group, which owns Ann Taylor, Loft and Lane Bryant, has filed for bankruptcy. Andrew Burton/Getty Images hide caption
Coins have been in short supply around the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic. Image Source/Getty Images hide caption
Customers wait in line to enter a Zara store inside the newly reopened Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus, N.J., on June 29. Seth Wenig/AP hide caption
Walmart and Sam's Club will begin requiring shoppers to wear masks inside their stores on Monday. Al Bello/Getty Images hide caption
Social distancing instructions are posted at California's Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall on June 12, as local businesses enter Phase 3 reopening. Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images hide caption