SPECIAL REPORT: STATE OF THE INDUSTRY STATE OF THE INDUSTRY As e-commerce gains market share, it should be seen as an opportunity, not a threat. By Kaileigh Peyton, Associate Editor A n influx of store closing announcements this year might suggest that retail as we know it is doomed - and that's partially true. While the industry has grown weary of the term "omnichannel," the necessity to create seamless brand experiences between physical and online stores hasn't (and isn't) going away. And for legacy retailers that have resisted change, holding out hope that they could weather the inevitable storm, it might just be their last chance to adapt and survive. VMSD.COM | JUNE 2017 31http://www.VMSD.COM