Untuckit has rolled out a virtual live chat tool to all of its store associates in 87 locations throughout the US, UK and Canada following trials amid pandemic lockdowns, which enable them to field 300 conversations daily and yield sales conversions well above industry averages. "I would argue that virtual clienteling itself is going to differentiate the next generation of retail leading brands," said Chelsea Gross, Gartner's director and digital commerce analyst.

Direct-to-consumer menswear brand Untuckit shuttered 87 of its brick-and-mortar stores during the pandemic, while online sales remained steady, founder and CEO Chris Riccobono said. The brand isn't rushing to reopen physical stores, but it remains committed to brick-and-mortar retail and there are no plans yet to permanently shutter any stores, he said.

Untuckit began life as a pure-play digital shirt retailer, but the brand's future includes a roster of brick-and-mortar stores in the US and Canada, co-founder and CEO Aaron Sanandres said. "There's just too much opportunity to drill down on a single market, which a store allows you to do," he said.

Menswear retailer Untuckit is set to open its first Canadian store in Toronto today, after building a fan base in the country with its online offerings. The brand has also signed hockey legend Wayne Gretzky as an investor and celebrity endorser.