There is a great article about online shopping at NPR today. It talks about a woman who does most of her shopping online. While they talk about free shipping and discounts, never once was it mentioned that she did it to save on Sales Tax. To quote from the article
“Over the years, Houseman says her love of convenience has trumped any initial misgivings about the security of using a credit card online, as well as those about having to make returns. She says she even gets better customer service online, with some e-tailers responding to tweeted customer complaints.”
Convenience and customer service are key to success in the retail world. You know you provide great customer service but your online store can also provide a greater selection of goods to your customers.
“Her husband, Andrew Houseman, likes the ability to custom-order things on the Web. ”
Don’t be fooled. Walmart is not worried about the lack of sales tax, but at more customers moving to the online world. Last year, online shopping only accounted for 7% of U.S. Retail sales happened online. That is expected to continue to climb.
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In Ireland – there are about 1.74 million people who are classed as rural dwellers – these people would benefit most from internet and online shopping .
According to the Central Statistics Office, 43 per cent of Irish adults bought something online in 2011 – , up from 36 per cent in 2010. Ireland is now in line with the EU average for online shopping but is still a long way behind the UK, where 71 per cent of adults shopped online last year.
Thanks for sharing the information about Ireland and the EU. The growth rates in online shopping will continue to overwhelm traditional brick and mortar. That being said, there is still a place for brick and mortar and always will be. I tell all my local customers they should be selling online as well since they already have inventory and (especially here in Hawaii) considerably cheaper then opening up more store space.