CINCINNATI -- It’s a familiar scene lately.
On Jan. 3, Macy’s announced their Downtown location will close by mid-March. Weeks later, Sam’s Clubs in Oakley and Loveland closed without much explanation.
For some Tri-Staters, like Michele Jacon-Duffy, online shopping has replaced the need to go to stores.
"From day to day we don't know which package is going to arrive so it's kind of like Christmas,” Jacon-Duffy said.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport shipped 30 percent more cargo in 2017 than it did the year before. Amazon Prime played a role in that increase.
But the trend can have a negative impact on local businesses, according to Michael Jones, a professor of economics at the University of Cincinnati.
"We're seeing them hire fewer workers, we're seeing store closings in the local Cincinnati economy,” Jones said.
In order to survive, businesses must adapt to the changes and support online growth, Jones said.
Jacon-Duffy said the convenience of purchasing items from wherever she is will keep her shopping online.
"I know for me personally, it just makes a lot more sense timewise and typically moneywise to shop online,” she said.
