Over thirty-two million people in the UK alone now regularly make at least one purchase online every year. The advantages of shopping online are many. We look at the main benefits of completing your shopping from the comfort of your own home.
By the year 2016, the percentage of total retail purchases made online in the United Kingdom is expected to rise to 25%. With more and more homes now having access to the internet, do not be surprised if that figure is surpassed. Whilst traditional bricks and mortar stores are far from being in danger of extinction just yet, the comparative ease of shopping from home and the often better value prices mean that online purchasing is most assuredly the future of retail.
Shopping in Comfort
Perhaps the greatest advantage of shopping online for most people is the ease with which it can be completed. Rather than battling their way through the Saturday afternoon crowds, many would rather sit comfortably in the stress-free environment of home and make their purchases at their own pace. Browsing stores online is also a lot quicker, of course and certainly saves on shoe leather. Whether you are looking at completing your weekly grocery shop or browsing for something more obscure and off-the-wall, such as economy shop hanger size cubes, you are sure to find it online.
Huge Range of Items
As demonstrated by the availability of size cubes for coat hangers, there probably is not a lot that cannot now be purchased online. Of course, everybody is aware that you can now do a complete grocery shop online or buy books, DVDs and gifts, but many may not know that it is possible to purchase highly unusual items such as:
Traditional London double decker buses
A battle tank
Apollo 17 replica space suits
Whilst it is highly unlikely that many people will actually purchase one of these examples, their very existence online proves that you can now buy just about anything from the internet.
Better Value Prices
The overheads for running a retail store online are tiny in comparison to those for a physical bricks and mortar shop. This is great news for online consumers, of course, who can take advantage of the much lower retail prices that online stores can afford to charge. Whilst some retailers would, in the past, have offset these prices with costly postal charges, increased online competition means this is often not found to be the case these days.
A factor that has often put people off shopping online is the concern over security and passing on personal details. However, the increased security measures put in place today by the majority of reputable online retailers and the advent of more sophisticated online protection programmes means that identity theft, although not completely impossible, is now less likely to occur. Whether you need food, a new car, clothing or even shop hanger size cubes, you are bound to find what you want online.
AUTHOR BIO
Shayne Rogers has been involved in the retail industry for many years and has written on the subject for a wide variety of shopping websites and a selection of printed publications. From food to Economy shop hanger size cubes, he believes there isn’t anything you cannot now buy online.