As COVID-19 took hold and varying levels of quarantine implemented state by state, retail businesses that hadn't considered alternative shopping options such as curbside pick-up quickly adapted. According to CNBC, the number of orders placed online and picked up at stores by customers increased 208% between April 1 and April 20 compared with the previous year. Although economies are slowly beginning to open, it looks as though social distancing is here to stay for a while. The question for retailers is, how can companies maintain that trend, and what are the design possibilities that may help?

To answer those questions, Harrison French & Associates published a study examining the best courses of action for responsibly distanced shopping (RDS) and how convenience stores, restaurants, and other retail stores can use these methods to provide a safe experience for their customers.

The report defines three primary RDS methods: in-store pickup, curbside, and delivery. All begin with a mobile or online order. Pickup occurs at a designated storage area where customers can go find their items, while curbside involves employees putting ordered products in customer vehicles in a specially chosen parking area. Delivery requires no other action on the part of the customer than the order itself.