Armchair Shopping Update

IS IT COMING FASTER THAN EXPECTED?

My very first trial blog “Armchair Shopping” focused on what is happening today and how consumers shop. Just yesterday I went shopping, mainly to take back some of the things that I’d bought online from Belk, JC Penny and Nordstrom. When I came home exhausted I started looking at other options for shopping online (from the comfort of my armchair). What I found struck a chord, the retailers themselves were being taken out of the mix.

More and more manufacturers are opening their own retail stores and offering their products online, quality brands such as Fossil www.fossil.com, Michael Kors www.michaelkors.com & Tumi www.tumi.com to name just a few.

Like “Green Shield stamps” back in the 70s as I explained in my first blog, they’re transforming into direct competition to the retailers they supply.

Sure right now they need their own retail stores, but as consumers experience the benefits of shopping online (no pressure to buy from salespeople, time to consider what to buy) added to the fact that online shopping allows an even greater opportunity to examine the merchandise with zoom in and even videos of products, online shopping really is far more beneficial, easier and effective than the old way of walking around the “Mall” dealing with the crowds, the time and the expense of getting there.

This is really good news for the consumer, just think of the cost savings of not having these large stores to keep up with. Eventually the cost reductions will filter down to us the consumer.

This Christmas I would expect online shopping to continue growing exponentially and eventually everyone will come to realize this (not so new) way of shopping is their favored option.

Things are moving at a faster pace out there, what will happen next?

And who will be the winners and the losers?

Here's to a fast moving 2014

So today is the 26th December 2013, TV News this morning reported massive problems with UPS and FedEx in getting parcels to customers mainly due to the unexpected rise in online shopping. whereas retailers are having huge sales to clear excess merchandise!