Scarred US consumer a hard sell for traditional retail

Shoppers enter a Best Buy in New York. In 2013, Best Buy slashed costs, ramped up employee training and matched online prices to draw customers into its stores as traditional retail takes a hit from the recession and online stores - AFP Photo.

NEW YORK: If there was one lesson from this year's holiday shopping season, it is that many traditional retailers have to work a lot harder to persuade Americans to open their pocketbooks.

A lot of stores had to discount heavily to eke out a modest increase in sales, likely squeezing profit margins in the process.