E-commerce, better known to consumers as online shopping, has exploded in popularity over the past decade and a half. According to research by Mintel, “Internet gift buying has grown from just 17% of adults in 2005 to nearly 40% in 2009. More than four in ten adults (21 million) use the Internet to look for gift ideas.”
Online shopping as a whole also continues to gain popularity. The IMRG-Capgemini Online Retail Sales Index reported that in April 2011, UK online retail sales increased by 19% year-on-year to £5.2bn.
But what has fueled, and continues to fuel, this surge in the popularity of online shopping and online gift shops?
1. Increased security
When online shopping first became a possibility, people were put off by security fears. Many shoppers were unhappy with the use of credit cards to purchase products over the Internet and this prevented them from making purchases.
Over time this perception has changed. Although some people are still concerned about security issues, the growth of online banking and the rise of large, trusted online retailers like Amazon has made online financial transactions more common and, as a result, more people. they feel comfortable with the idea of buying. online.
2. Greater Portability of the Web
One of the reasons that online shopping has grown in popularity is due to the fact that the internet has become increasingly mobile over the years. The initial appeal of shopping online was being able to shop from the comfort of home. Now, the rise of smartphones and tablets has allowed people to take the Internet with them wherever they go so they can buy products online wherever and whenever they want.
Recent research http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1008400 has shown that tablet owners are especially interested in using their devices to shop online, even more than smartphone owners, which which means growth in online sales is expected. further increase with the growth of the tablet market.
3. Growth of price comparisons
Over the years, comparing prices on the web has become easier than ever. Consumers now know that they can visit multiple online stores and quickly compare prices to find the best deals. This has become even easier with the growth of price comparison websites, which have become an important feature of online shopping and have increased consumer confidence.
4. The rise of social networks and reviews
Social networks have experienced a massive increase in popularity in recent years, and this has affected online shopping habits. Consumers can now easily access product reviews before purchasing, and reviews from contacts on your social networks are especially powerful for making informed decisions.
Also, there are now more opportunities to buy products directly from well-known websites. Businesses are starting to become more present on social networks like Facebook, and all of this makes the online shopping experience more familiar, leading to greater popularity.
5. Busier lifestyles
As we continue to lead increasingly busy lifestyles, we constantly demand more flexibility and choice. Online shopping provides a fast and convenient shopping experience where consumers can make purchases 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world. This fits perfectly with our increasingly hectic lifestyles, so it’s no surprise that online shopping has grown in popularity over the years.
The future of shopping is online
Online gift shopping and other forms of e-commerce have grown in popularity over the years, largely due to the above factors. As lifestyles continue to change and consumers begin to rely on the Internet for a greater variety of services, it can be safely assumed that online shopping will continue to grow in popularity for years to come.
