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Retail & Wholesale

Retailers and wholesalers with retail operations face an evolving risk landscape, which is accelerating due to technology implementations and customer demands. With new needs for innovative risk consulting and transfer solutions, companies can rely on Marsh’s experienced global specialists.
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Innovation-led & Forward-looking

The retail and wholesale industry is in flux. Technology is reshaping operations. Customer expectations are rising across all dimensions—convenience, choice, cost, and communality.

Supply chain vulnerabilities, cybersecurity threats, climate exposure, social responsibility expectations, and operational pressures are testing even the best-run organizations. Those who succeed won't be the ones who react fastest to crises. They'll be the ones who anticipated them.

Build resilience into your strategy:

Marsh's Retail & Wholesale Practice partners with industry leaders to do more than help you manage today's risks—we help you build tomorrow's competitive advantages. Our team of over 500 US-based specialists brings:

  • Deep industry expertise across retail formats, wholesale operations, and emerging business models.
  • Comprehensive risk solutions tailored to your unique business—from supply chain to cybersecurity to climate adaptation.
  • Strategic foresight to help you anticipate emerging threats before they become crises.
  • An integrated approach that helps you protect your customers, employees, and profitability.

The complexity your business faces isn't going away. But with the right risk advisor, you can turn that complexity into resilience. And resilience into growth.

The Global Risks Report

The top risks for 2026 and beyond. Data and insights from more than 1,300 global experts and leaders.

Explore the report

Featured insights

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06/24/2026

Managing rising liability costs through a robust pre- and post-loss strategy

Learn how restaurants and retailers can manage rising liability costs through robust pre- and post-loss strategies that strengthen prevention and claims handling.

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04/14/2026

Facing financial pressure: Practical strategies for retail and restaurant leaders

Practical strategies for retail and restaurant leaders to manage financial distress: Assess operations, retain talent, maintain safety, and protect leadership.

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12/10/2025

Harnessing AI to enhance retail risk management and claims efficiency

Harness AI to boost retail risk management and claims efficiency, reducing costs and enhancing operational resilience in a complex retail landscape.

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FAQs

Retailers are facing a more complex set of risks than ever before, as societies reopen to in-person shopping while the demand for online retail still remains strong.

As COVID-19 is still present on a global scale, businesses must contend with risks related to the return to in-person shopping experiences, including customer and staff safety, as well as profitability in light of increased utilization of online shopping.

Some of the risks related to online shopping, such as cybersecurity, were present prior to the pandemic. However, others, like supply chain disruptions, have become much more of an issue as a result of complications related to shipping and logistics, including delays getting merchandise across international borders.

At a bare minimum, retailers should have general liability coverage to protect against claims of customer harm. Beyond this, retailers should consider a business owner’s policy, which covers your storefront, commercial buildings, and any personal property that might be in these locations. Any retailer with employees other than the owner is generally also required to have some form of workers’ compensation insurance, although this may vary by country. Finally, if your business is also involved in transporting merchandise or making deliveries, it is important to have commercial auto insurance to protect against accident claims.

Any time business is conducted at scale, there is an opportunity for great profit, but also for tremendous loss. Wholesalers face a unique set of risks as part of their daily operations. First and foremost is a loss of merchandise, whether due to theft or disaster. Next, there is the inability to obtain supply, which can effectively disrupt business. Wholesalers may also become involved in product liability claims, as they were part of either manufacturing or distribution. Finally, other legal action may be pursued against wholesalers for a number of reasons, from non-delivery of merchandise to regulatory compliance penalties.

First, it is important for wholesalers to consider general liability insurance, similar to retail operations. This protects companies against claims of injury or other harm to customers as well as the general public. Other insurance policies to consider include workers’ compensation, if required in a specific region, as well as transportation-related coverage, such as commercial auto insurance, if applicable. Should a wholesaler be responsible for shipping internationally, it is usually valuable to have expanded coverage for loss and liability of merchandise in transit, including protection against damage made to a shipping vessel or other form of transportation by the merchandise itself.

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