What is Behind the Rise in Online Shopping?
Article by 24-7style.com
Online shopping is all the rage these days, but it wasn’t always that way. What has contributed to this becoming a major force in the retail industry, even forcing some brick-and-mortar outlets to close their doors for good?
One of the biggest things that used to discourage people from making purchases on the Internet was fears about the security of payment information. These days, there is encryption that makes online transactions safer than ever before. Also, the rise of third-party payment processors, like PayPal, allows people to make purchases with little worry.
Another factor was not being able to see and examine the product before purchasing. When you shop in a retail outlet, you can put your hands on the product. Clothing could be tried on. Shoes could be tried out to make sure you have the right size. Now, almost all online retailers have great return policies, and shipping times are so good now that it’s really not a big deal to buy something on the Internet, try it on, and then send it back if necessary. All of this without the hassle of getting out on busy streets.
These are just a couple of the reasons that shopping online has become the norm and not the exception. This will no doubt continue to be a booming part of the retail industry going forward, and traditional retailers are under the gun to come up with creative ways to stay relevant. With the popularity of smartphones and tablets, it’s easier than ever to make purchases online instead of going to the store. You can even go to the store to check out the product before you press the magic button to have it shipped to your door. These reasons and more are why so many consumers are turning to the Internet for everything from clothing to electronics to groceries.