| When it comes to shopping, more and more of us are | | | | experience with a product or retailer. As Internet |
| letting our fingers (and our mice) do the walking. | | | | connection speeds continue to increase for larger |
| Online sales are expected to hit $211 billion this year. | | | | segments of the population, these types of interactive |
| That is a rise of 20 percent over last year and comes | | | | features will become even more important. |
| just three years after the industry hit the $100 billion | | | | Zappos.com, a leading shoe retailer, for example, |
| milestone, according to the 2006 State of Retailing | | | | allows you to view most shoes from as many as eight |
| Online report from Shop.org and Forrester Research. | | | | different angles, including a close up. |
| Here are seven reasons it makes sense to shop | | | | 4. Increased selection. Warehousing logistics can be |
| online: | | | | much simpler for an online retailer, and many of the |
| 1. Lower prices. Online shopping can reduce overhead | | | | online superstores have a staggering inventory to |
| costs in a variety of ways, which can translate to | | | | choose from. Plus, as a consumer, you can avoid the |
| lower prices for you. In fact, one 2004 study found | | | | inconvenience of physically traveling among online |
| online prices to be 6 to 16 percent lower than offline | | | | stores to comparison shop. A simple online search can |
| prices. | | | | lead you to the right product at the right price, fast. |
| 2. More savings with online coupons. Many times, | | | | 5. Convenience. An online store allows you to shop 24 |
| shoppers can save even further with an online coupon | | | | hours a day, 7 days a week. So you can shop at your |
| or coupon code. According to a 2005 Bizrate/Shopzilla | | | | leisure, regardless of your time zone. This is particularly |
| report, 71 percent of online shoppers said they were | | | | important for those of us who are limited in our ability |
| able to find better discount offers and sales online, as | | | | to get to a brick and mortar store. The elderly, as well |
| compared to shopping through a catalog or traditional | | | | as parents of young children, for example, may have a |
| retail merchant. Online retailers may issue a button or | | | | more relaxed shopping experience in front of the |
| text link that will apply an automatic savings to your | | | | computer screen. |
| order, or they may issue a specific coupon code to be | | | | 6. Saves time. So much of the vast variety of |
| entered at checkout. | | | | products and product information is easily searchable. |
| 3. Research capabilities. The Internet allows you to | | | | Plus, there is no traveling, parking, and walking involved. |
| easily compare products and prices, so you can be | | | | 7. Environmental Benefits. Recent studies are showing |
| sure that the item you purchase is the exact item you | | | | that shopping online leads to reduced fuel consumption |
| want. Online merchants can publish much more | | | | and air pollution, because so much of our car travel is |
| information about their product on a website than they | | | | dedicated to shopping. Plus, shopping online reduces |
| could affordably publish in a print catalog. And online | | | | the need for print catalogs and excess packaging. And |
| stores give you the ability to share information and | | | | downloadable items purchased online eliminate the |
| reviews with other shoppers who have firsthand | | | | need for any kind of material goods at all. |