MADRID/NEW YORK/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Are you a “user-experience” gun for hire? Well, your time has come. Even as retailers lay off hundreds of thousands of workers globally in response to the pandemic, they are seeking to capitalise on a consumer rush online.

They are recruiting e-commerce experts to help maximise sales, as some brands like Ralph Lauren and Pandora launch more ambitious online plans to simulate the physical shopping experience, such as 3D-effect virtual stores.