Shopping has been a part of our society for centuries. Whether it is picking up your weekly groceries or finding a new dress, exchanging money for goods is no new concept. However, how we shop continues evolving with the internet and our fast-paced society. With the introduction of online shopping, you can browse and purchase new items with ease. The world of boutiques and departments stores have to step up their game and become accessible all over the world. As the business of buying and selling evolves in this way, you can enjoy the ability to purchase items from anywhere through a multitude of channels.
The Convenience of Online Shopping
Perks of online shopping include convenience, ease, variety, price comparison, and the ability to be discreet. Sometimes the pressure of being around others at a store can make shoppers negative and self-deprecating. Plus shopping online makes it easier to send something as a gift or order an item you may not feel comfortable purchasing from another person. Extra deals are often available online, so you may even end up saving more money.
Every shop seems to have an online presence nowadays — from a trendy online boutique like Saved by the Dress to the online site for Kohl’s. Fashion is all about expressing yourself and your own unique personality. With the multitude of options available to you from the comfort of your home, you’re free to explore and find the perfect items that fit you.
Social Media and Sales
Beyond online shopping, plenty of businesses appeal to consumers directly through social media. Not only do you have ads popping up all over Facebook and Instagram, but you can purchase items directly on those sites as well. Research has found that the quicker and easier it is for consumers to purchase an item, the more likely they are to do so. We live in a world of “I want it now,” and retailers continue to strive to meet these expectations.
Social media has also opened up the realm of consumer-to-consumer sales. Avenues such as Facebook Marketplace allow for social media users to sell their own products secondhand to friends or strangers. This is called social commerce, and it has the potential to change the business of online shopping without completely redesigning it. In reality, reselling of goods has been happening long before social media came along, but these avenues do aid the process.
Subscription Shopping
Another new trend that requires even less time and energy than shopping online is subscription shopping. These services allow consumers to pay a monthly fee and receive monthly shipments of anything from clothing to beauty supplies to alcohol. By taking the thought and effort out of shopping, you can receive a mini-gift for yourself that keeps your fashion fresh every month. Most subscription companies have experts who fit new items to your specific style and allow for returns, so their customers are always 100 percent satisfied. These companies are growing around the country, because of the ease and affordability they offer.
Making Everything an Experience
With online shopping, subscriptions, or in person events, so many companies are working to make shopping an experience for you. People tend to get easily bored with traditional shopping centers and department stores. Now, shops aim to create a unique experience for you. Buying new eyeglass frames can now take up to a week of your trying out different ones before you buy, shopping at an athletic store may even involve taking a yoga class, and shopping at an upscale boutique might even involve sipping a glass of wine while trying on clothes. Consumers need to be hooked by your product and enticed by how they feel using it. Shopping isn’t just selling a product anymore. We’ve transitioned into a world where we need to be sold on the experience.