I believe that the hospitality, event and travel industries have been some of the hardest hit during the pandemic. State regulations, understandably, have made it difficult to produce face-to-face events. Event organizers, hotels and businesses that feed off of these industries have had to do furloughs and pivot their businesses. Yes, I used the word pivot, which I believe during these unprecedented times, is the most overused word; yet, it perfectly explains this period in time. Businesses hit the hardest have to survive and ultimately figure out how to thrive because, unfortunately, the pandemic is not leaving anytime soon!

Covid-19 has shaken the confidence of business travel. There is not an overwhelming desire to crowd into a convention hall with tens of thousands of other attendees with the pandemic still active. While I am not trying to be a downer, I am being realistic. While I believe nothing, and I mean nothing, replaces face-to-face events, virtual events are the best alternative at this time.

What’s the saying, “When you get knocked down, you get back up”? Every time the hospitality, event and travel businesses get knocked down, they get innovative and get back up to serve their guests, attendees and passengers.

The Home Improvement eRetailer Summit which would have celebrated its fifth consecutive year in 2020 will now go virtual in 2021. It was just announced. Read the press release here. Relevant conference sessions and facilitated pre-scheduled meetings between potential partners will proceed. This topic is so relevant that we could not let another year pass by without addressing some of the major issues that we are experiencing.

From July to September 2020 (the latest period for which data were available), consumers spent $199.44 billion online with U.S. retailers, up 37.1% from the same quarter the prior year, according to Commerce Department estimates. That meant nearly $1 in every $5 spent came from orders placed online during last year’s third quarter. When the Commerce Department publishes its fourth quarter 2020 estimates next month, the numbers are highly likely to show ecommerce capturing a sizable share of consumers’ spending, especially for Christmas purchases.

While none of us know what lies ahead, we all can claim that the pandemic taught us something. One session at the upcoming eRetailer Summit will focus on lessons learned from our Advisory Council Members, who include —Elizabeth Ragone of BOSCOV’s; Mike Hargrave of Goedeker’s; Asa Farquhar of Spreetail; Brian Fricano of Sustainable Supply; Jay Patel of Zoro.com; and Curt Vitale of Firefly Buys. Michael McLarney, the publisher of HARDLINES, will moderate this session. We are grateful for these ecommerce professionals helping to shape the Summit and for their willingness to share their experiences and learnings with our virtual attendees.

Join the Summit’s Advisory Council members and me for Home Improvement eRetailer Summit’s Virtual Event. We got knocked down and we got back-up and will host an awesome 5th eRetailer Summit. Registration opens next week, don’t miss it!

Sonya Ruff Jarvis, is the Managing Member of Jarvis Consultants and the Founder of the eRetailer Summit and JC Event Group. An expert in her field, Sonya has been published in numerous retail industry b-to-b publications. Sonya shares her experiences in her book series Mindful Minutes: A Marketer’s Journey Through Business. In addition, Sonya collaborated in publishing an anthology, Mentoring Moments: 14 Remarkable Women Share Their Breakthroughs to Success. Purchase Sonya’s books here.

Sonya has a M.B.A. in Marketing. She is married and has a daughter.

Follow Sonya on twitter at @jarvisconsult or @eretailersummit