Retail Traffic Trends #77: The Rise of Retail Subscriptions

Can you count on one hand how many subscriptions your household is subscribed to?


Over 62% of households are now subscribed to at least one retail membership. Not surprisingly, 54% of U.S. households are subscribed to Amazon Prime.


This week we dive deep into emerging retail subscription services and the potential of a BNPL bubble.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • BNPL: How buy now, pay later has become an unregulated mess.

     

  • Hot topic – Subscriptions: From niche to mainstream, everything you need to know about retail subscriptions.

  • Q1 Benchmark Report: Click HERE to download the report.

  • Doorcounts webinar:  No webinar this week. Enjoy your morning and we will be back next week!

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 19 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Update: Buy Now Pay Later

Name of the game: Subscriptions

From Costco to Amazon Prime, subscription retail services have slowly become mainstream.

 

Over 62% of households are now subscribed to at least one retail membership. Not surprisingly, 54% of U.S. households are subscribed to Amazon Prime.

 

Not only do programs like Walmart+ and Amazon prime drive more sales with the added benefits such as free shipping, but the memberships also help drive brand loyalty and trust.

 

Although subscription services do not directly relate to big-ticket items, early access or “subscriber-only” deals can be a great way to generate leads and brand loyalty.

 

Click HERE to learn more about retail subscription services.

Retail Snippets

Market insights: Analysis of 500 brands reveals gaps that retailers can turn into competitive advantages.

 

Supply update: How other furniture brands and manufacturers are coping with ongoing supply chain strain.

 

Union: Employees everywhere are organizing. Here’s why it’s happening now.

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UFO: Pentagon UFO sightings will finally be publicly aired at a Congressional hearing.

 

Robomeal: Uber set to test delivering food with robots.

 

Peek-a-Boo Moon: Astronaut on Space Station captures spectacular photos of the lunar eclipse.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #76: April 2022 Recap

As we start the second week of May, let us take a moment to see what it takes to become a top-performing store.


Despite this April having less foot traffic than last year, both the furniture and mattress industry saw over a 10% increase to their conversion rate in April 2022.


This week we take a look at the top 20% of stores with the highest conversion rates in both the furniture and mattress industry to see how April played out.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST for our weekly webinar on Contact Manager Best Practices CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • April in the furniture industry: The highs and lows for the furniture industry to start Q2.
  • April in the mattress industry: How the mattress industry increased conversion rate by 25%.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 18 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

April 2022: Furniture industry

April 2022 furniture industry performance metrics

April 2022: Mattress industry

April 2022 mattress industry performance metrics

Retail Snippets

Fresh Brick: Meta’s first-ever retail store just opened in the Bay Area. Here’s what it’s like.

 

Best of Both Worlds: How companies are humanizing customer service with the power of AI.

 

Growth: Why text marketing may be your best growth opportunity.

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Hubble: The Hubble Space Telescope spots a ‘grand design’ galaxy in a stunning new image.

 

Watch: After 13 years, the second Avatar trailer is finally here.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #75: Customer Experience takes the cake

The customer experience has become so important to customers that most consumers would rather sit in a traffic jam than have a bad customer experience.


Although most people will tell you they would rather talk to a human than a robot, there is a time and place for everything.


This week we dive deep into all things related to customer experience and the current state of the industry.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • Q1 Benchmark Report: Click HERE to download the report.

  • Doorcounts webinar:  Join us at 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST to see how to make the most out of quick entry.
  • Retail traffic jam: Shoppers explain their perfect in-store experience.
  • Customer experience hacks: Simple hacks that will save you and your customers time.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 13 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Traffic jams vs. bad customer experience

One of the few benefits of the increasing gas prices has been the lack of traffic on the roads the past few weeks.

As it turns out, people have very strong feelings about traffic jams. Although most people hate traffic jams more than most things, 60%, of consumers would rather sit in a traffic jam than have a poor customer experience, according to a Telus International survey.

The survey also found that nearly 48% of consumers believe that customer experiences should get significantly faster, followed by 43% saying interactions should become more personalized and 36% saying there should be more self-serve or automated options,” Maria Pardee, chief commercial officer at Telus International, said in the release.

 

Click HERE to learn more.

Customer Experience by the Facts

Although most people will tell you they would rather talk to a human than a robot, there is a time and place for everything.

 

With more commerce moving to the digital space, customers are looking to interact with brands on a personal level now more than ever. Most customers are looking for a conversation and personalized experience, now more than ever.

 

In 2020, brand interactions during the Black Friday, Cyber Monday season skyrocketed 345% over 2019. In 2021, those numbers continued to rise by 16%.

 

Despite the increased need for human interaction throughout the customer experience, certain conversations can be time-consuming and unnecessary for a human to do. In 2021, WISMO (where is my order?) accounted for 36% of interactions, up from 31% in 2020.

 

WISMO conversations are the perfect use-case for an Ai-system that can instantly give the customer an update on their order.

 

Click HERE to learn about more customer experience hacks.

Retail Snippets

Digital fraud: Mastercard partners with Microsoft to tackle digital fraud.

 

BYP: Amazon launches ‘Buy With Prime,’ allowing other retail sites to use services — Here’s How to Get Started.

 

UK: UK retail sales slump as soaring energy prices hit households

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Black Moon: Rare Black Moon solar eclipse takes a bite out of the sun over South America.

 

Vintage meal: Illinois family finds preserved McDonald’s food from over half a century ago in home’s wall

 

Oil shortage: Supermarkets are limiting the amount of cooking oil people can buy as the Ukraine war leads to shortages and surging prices

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #74: The Test of Time

We have seen endless trends come and go, but since the inception of Retail Traffic Trends, Buy Now Pay later has become a bedrock in the industry.


Shoppers are becoming so comfortable using these types of services that 57% of shoppers in a recent survey said using buy now, pay later services could replace their credit card in the future.


This week we look at trends that have proven the test of time and discuss the effect rising gas prices have had on foot traffic.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • Doorcounts webinar: This week will be open-ended for any questions you may have. Join us at 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST as we go over the report customizations.
  • Test of time: Stay up-to-date on the current trends that are here to stay.
  • Foot traffic: The factors impacting where shoppers go and when.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 13 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Trends prove the test of time

Since the inception of Retail Traffic Trends, we have been discussing the new trend of buy now pay later.

 

Nearly a year later, buy now pay later is a bedrock in the industry that has been widely adopted by consumers. A recent survey found that 80% of US shoppers use buy now pay later options such as Klarna to avoid credit card debt.

 

Shoppers are so comfortable using these types of services that 57% of respondents said using buy now, pay later services could replace their credit card in the future.

 

Although many trends come and go, certain trends such as BOPIS, curbside pickup, and buy now pay later have proven the test of time.

 

Click HERE to learn more.

Food and gas prices halt foot traffic

As I think we can all relate, a trip to the gas station or supermarket is now becoming more and more painful.

 

With prices continuing to rise, shoppers are beginning to consolidate their shopping trips and trying to make the most out of each outing. Over the last year, discount and dollar store visits are on the rise while supermarket visits dwindle.

 

Companies such as Costco have seen traffic at their gas stations nearly double year-over-year, and continue to benefit from shoppers consolidating their shopping trips and gas runs into one.

 

Click HERE to learn more about how consumers are shopping with inflated prices.

Retail Snippets

Digital fraud: Mastercard partners with Microsoft to tackle digital fraud.

 

Meta experience: New Meta brick-and-mortar store offers shoppers an intro to the Metaverse.

 

NYC: How speed and convenience are driving retail innovation.

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Long Live: World’s oldest person, Kane Tanaka, dies in Japan aged 119.

 

Netflix police: Netflix is finally going after password sharing. Here’s how it’s likely to work.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #73: March 2022 Recap

As we are about halfway through April, let us take a moment to see what it takes to become a top-performing store.


Despite less foot traffic than last March, both the furniture and mattress industry saw over a 10% increase to their average tickets in March 2022.


This week we take a look at the top 20% of stores with the highest conversion rates in both the furniture and mattress industry and see how March played out.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 9 AM PST / 12 pm EST for our weekly webinar about email campaigns in Doorcounts. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • March in the furniture industry: The highs and lows for the furniture industry to start the year.
  • March in the mattress industry: How the mattress industry increased average ticket by 15%.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 14 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

March 2022: Furniture industry

March 2022 furniture industry performance metrics

March 2022: Mattress industry

March 2022 mattress industry performance metrics

Retail Snippets

A New frontier: How data & analytics is fueling the retail industry.

 

Bitcoin: eCommerce platform Shopify integrates with payments network Strike to accept Bitcoin.

 

Fallen giant: Once a retail giant, Kmart nears extinction after New Jersey closure

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‘Stranger Things 4’ Trailer: The Hawkins gang goes to war with the upside down.

 

Lost memories: The Hubble telescope confirms the largest comet nucleus ever seen.

 

Private space: The first all-private astronaut team arrived at the international space station.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #72: March Foot traffic shows promise

Getting a customer to cross the buying line is a task in itself when it comes to big-ticket items, and keeping them coming back for more is a whole other beast.

 

Even with foot traffic returning to normal, it is essential to treat every customer like they are your last.

 

This week we take a look at foot traffic trends from march and share strategies on how to harness the post-purchase experience

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • Doorcounts webinar: Our weekly webinar is back in action! Join us at 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST as we go over the Floorboard for new users.
  • Visual commerce strategies: How brands can use visual commerce strategies to better connect with consumers.
  • Foot traffic in March: How did March compare to other months?

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 13 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Harness the Post-Purchase Experience

Getting a customer to cross the buying line is a task in itself when it comes to big-ticket items, and keeping them coming back for more is a whole other beast.

 

The first step to maintaining a relationship begins with communicating with a customer through delivery and beyond. A recent report found that 90% of customers want brands to engage with them during delivery.

 

Even with delivery delays, customers have made it clear they want to hear about the bad news rather than be left in the dark.

 

Although constant communication is key to bringing customers back, it only takes one message to lose a customer. Recent data found that 49% of U.S. consumers will unsubscribe completely from marketing content if they are incorrectly targeted by marketing outreach.

 

Click HERE to read more about how to harness the post-purchase experience.

March Foot Traffic

March 2022 average counts

When it comes to foot traffic, March was seen very differently in different industries.

 

Compared to the same time last year, both the furniture and footwear industries saw slight increases. Even with mask mandates slowly being dropped around the country, the mattress and appliance industry still struggled to get the same amount of customers as they saw last year.

 

As for this year, foot traffic continues to trend positively. Compared to last month, nearly every industry was in the green with more foot traffic than in February. Although the furniture industry saw a decrease in traffic, a 0.21% decrease will be easy to improve on this month.

 

With Spring in full action, we expect April to be one of the highest foot traffic months thus far this year.

Retail Snippets

e-commerce: Google introduces retail search for e-commerce sites.

 

The cloud: Snowflake launches a data cloud for the retail industry.

 

Shipping hacks: Why ‘free’ shipping is never truly free.

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Too much sauce: McDonald’s workers explain how they’re bracing for the return of Szechuan sauce after it previously ignited chaos in stores.

 

Look up, Texas: Takeout in Texas is now arriving by drone.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #71: Visual commerce simplified

Visual Commerce Simplified

This week we discuss visual commerce and what different retail industries can learn from other sectors.

 

The pictures you display on your store windows and website, and the quality of the content has a major impact on getting customers across the buying line.

Customers are twice as likely to purchase a product if it has a 3D product image rather than a flat image.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • Doorcounts webinar: Our weekly webinar is back in action! Join us at 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST as we go over the Dashboard.
  • Visual commerce strategies: How brands can use visual commerce strategies to better connect with consumers.
  • Furniture industry: What can the furniture industry learn from another sector?

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 12 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Visual Commerce Strategies To Better Connect with Consumers

Just as you would greet a customer at your physical store, you now need to greet your customers as soon as they enter your digital storefront by deploying effective visual commerce strategies.

 

The term “visual commerce” refers to the strategies and tactics around using pictures, videos, animations, and even augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) to better engage and connect with consumers as they learn about your products and brand.

 

The pictures you display on your website, and the quality of the content has a major impact on getting customers across the buying line.

 

84% of consumers say that they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a video. More recently, images and videos have even evolved further to be three-dimensional — and customers are twice as likely to purchase a product if it has a 3D product image rather than a flat image.

 

Click HERE to learn more about visual commerce strategies

What can the furniture industry learn from another sector?

As the retail industry as a whole, and more specifically the furniture industry, continues to change, Retail Dive sat down with various store owners to ask what they think could be learned from other industries.

 

John Conroy of Morrisofa Europe says, “The tech sector sells a full concept rather than a product – for example, buying an apple iPhone usually leads to buying Airpods, an iPad, apple Watch, and iPod to go with it. Why do we only try to sell a sofa, rather than a professionally designed roomset?” 

 

Another owner pointed out the importance of supplier-driven assets. Mike Whitman, the owner of Iconography, states “Decent photography is an expensive investment, and proper 3D models are even more costly. Small independents simply can’t afford to source this themselves, either in time or money. If suppliers want their products to be chosen over their competitors (either by the end-customer or by retailers), then they need to be providing that retailer support.” 

 

Each industry provides a unique take on what is going on in their world, and how the industries overlap and can learn from each other.

 

Click HERE to hear more about what can be learned from other industries.  

Retail Snippets

price of return: Smart tech is tackling the true cost of returns to the retail industry.

 

retail science: Neuroscience-backed steps for persuasive virtual sales presentations.

 

Coin collection: Retail and financial trade groups in search of coins amid a shortage.

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Brick by brick: How Lego continues to build a toy empire.

 

Imperfect: The longest an NCAA bracket has ever stayed perfect. 

 

Pluto: Scientists conclude that Pluto’s peaks are ice volcanoes.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #70: Wireless 5G revolutionizing retail

Wireless 5G revolutionizing Retail

While phones used to only do the simple task of calling, new technologies and the speed from cellular has made 5G a viable option for retailers.

5G gives the possibility of a life without internet issues at work, with many phone providers offering business plans so your team can stay online no matter where they are.

This week we look at the top trends that we will see throughout 2022 and how they will affect your team.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • 5G in brick-and-mortar: How convenience has become the name of the game.
  • Top trends of 2022: The top 8 trends that will continue to gain momentum.
  • Future predictions: Why the death of the third-party cookie Is good for brands and consumers.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 10 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Wireless 5G revolutionizing retail

Although a wireless network doesn’t seem to have much to do with the world of retail, it has the potential to perfect the custom journey and boost your sales.

 

5G is expected to be a powerful catalyst to disrupt retail operations, from optimizing warehouses and supply chain management to transforming the in-store customer experience through personalization and product engagement. 

 

Due to the speed of 5G, the adoption rate has already proved to be higher than expected. A recent Verizon Look Forwardstudy found that more than 1/5 adults say they expect to use more self-checkout and contactless payment in a year than they already use.

 

5G also gives the possibility of a life without internet issues at work, with many phone providers offering business plans so your team can stay online no matter where they are.

 

Learn more about the benefits of 5G in retail.

2022 trends on the rise

Each week there seems to be a new trend that sweeps the industry. Despite all the changes, certain trends stand out amongst the others.

 

Here are the top trends in the retail industry this year:

  1. Selling online is non-negotiable.
  2. Omnichannel tools create more meaningful shopping experiences.
  3. Automated technology helps retailers manage the labor shortage.
  4. Same-day delivery gives retailers a clear advantage.
  5. Social commerce is one of the biggest digital trends in the retail industry.
  6. Interactive retail experiences bridge the gap between the online and offline parts of a store.
  7. The borders between retail and other industries continue to blur.
  8. Community investments from retailers may be here to stay.

Click HERE to read more about the trends that will shape 2022.

Retail Snippets

Inflation: Shoppers reach their limits on certain price increases.

 

On the rise: Retail sales will grow this year, but at a slower rate than in 2021.

 

Future predictions: Why the death of the third-party cookie Is good for brands and consumers.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

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Pickleball: The sport with the funny name that’s sweeping America.

 

Breakfast of championsWendy’s prepares to overtake Burger King in breakfast, two years after its nationwide launch.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #69: Precision retail at the forefront

Precision Retail at the Forefront

This week we look at precision retail and the importance that integration has on perfecting the customer journey.

As Buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) continues to gain popularity among consumers, it has started to blur the lines between digital and non-digital shopper behavior.

Without collecting data on both your physical and digital traffic, there’s no way of knowing which customers are slipping by even when they are ready to buy.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 9 AM PST 12 PM EST for our webinar on the Contact Manager. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • Precision retail: How convenience has become the name of the game.
  • Stores at the heart of e-commerce: The power of ship-to-store.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 10 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Precision Retail

Today, convenience is the name of the game. In a November 2020 survey, 83% of consumers say that convenience was more important than in previous years.

 

Fast forward two years, and convenience is still just as important as it was at the beginning of the pandemic. 

 

Because of shoppers increased need for convenience and personalization, many companies are going down the precision retail route. By implementing different software such as POS systems and foot traffic systems that integrate, you can see the entire customer journey and become more precise with how you approach your customer journey.

 

Buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) has started to blur the lines between digital and non-digital shopper behavior. A tightly integrated strategy can help you build a true precision retail experience that evolves with changing customer needs. 

 

Click HERE to learn more about precision retail.

Stores at the heart of e-commerce

At the beginning of the pandemic, ship-from-store became a popular trend for stores across the country.

 

Ship-from-store was a suitable pandemic strategy because there were thousands of shops sitting dormant and full of stock.  This is a process that was been accelerated by the pandemic and is likely something we would’ve still seen in 5 or 10 years if the pandemic never happened.

 

With the combination of the increasing popularity of BOPIS and curbside pickup, ship-to-store has become a staple in the world of brick-and-mortar. Additionally, with the correct systems in place, you can get a surplus of data when a shopper buys online and picks up in-store.

 

Click HERE to read more about the benefits of ship-to-store.

Retail Snippets

Winners and losers: How fast Fulfillment Will Determine the Winners and Losers in the Retail Industry

 

On the rise: Discount stores become more popular as inflation rises.

 

Future predictions: How the retail industry may adapt in the coming years.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Clockwork: Congress weighs permanent daylight saving time in a debate as regular as clockwork.

 

Highest tea party: Group sets world record for the highest tea party at Mount Everest camp 2.

 

PokémonA rare Pokémon Charizard card sells for $336,000.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #68: February 2022 benchmark

Despite less foot traffic than last February, both the furniture and mattress industry saw over a 15% increase to their average tickets in February 2022.

As we head into the final stretch of Q1, let us take a moment to see what it takes to become a top-performing store.

This week we take a look at the top 20% of stores with the highest conversion rates in both the furniture and mattress industry.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 9 AM PST / 12 pm EST for our weekly webinar about email campaigns in Doorcounts. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • February in the furniture industry: The highs and lows for the furniture industry to start the year.
  • February in the mattress industry: How the mattress industry increased average ticket by 15%.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 09 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

February 2022: Furniture industry

February 2022 furniture industry performance metrics

February 2022: Mattress industry

February 2022 mattress industry performance metrics

Retail Snippets

6 ways NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show reflects the growing influence of sustainability.

 

Klarna: A third of Buy Now Pay Later users say they’ve struggled to keep up with the installment payments.

 

Phygital: Four predictions for the future of brick and mortar in 2022.

 

Social commerce: Petco posts record sales in 2021 as it leans into wellness and service offerings.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Taco-Flavored Jelly Beans: Brach’s latest offering has the internet talking.

 

Lost memories: Researchers discover how the human brain separates, stores, and retrieves memories.

 

Airbnb: People around the world are booking Airbnbs in Ukraine. They don’t plan to check-in.

Read More

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