Online Shopping – Its Past, Present, and Future
As the number of Internet users continues to grow, the success of online shopping increases along with it. E-commerce is now a significant niche in the market, with almost anything and everything available to consumers on the Internet. Products vary greatly from books, clothes, gadgets, to even food. There are uncountable websites dedicated to the comfort of shopping at home while simply logged on to the computer.
But the Internet shopping landscape during its beginnings did not look like the open and densely populated market we now know it to be. The first online store was Book Stacks Unlimited, owned by Charles Stack and launched in 1992. Although the idea was ingenious and led the way to future online bookstores, unfortunately, weak implementation eventually led to its failure. Pizza Hut, surprising to many, was also one of the pioneers of e-commerce, with it providing an option of online ordering in one of its restaurants in California. However, it did take several years before the test run expanded into a fixed option for the company. In a nutshell, the early years of Internet shopping were full of hits-and-misses, risks, some pay-offs but even more loses.
The biggest hindrances to online shopping in the past were the high incidence of identity theft, lack of consumer-friendly site interface, and the dot-com bust. But despite these drawbacks, with the help of computer programmers’ improved software and increased security, investors and businesses rebuilt and redefined online marketing.
Today, online stores are in the millions, with shops catering to both businesses and direct consumers. Many advances in technology have afforded this enterprise with more options for mobile shopping, as well as increased competitiveness in prices. Affordability has boosted the number of customers opting to do their shopping from a computer. Alongside this is the availability of more modes of payment. In the earlier years, credit cards were the only option for payment of goods purchased online. But now, with the development of internet money and the acceptance of alternative means of payment like checks, cash on delivery, wire transfer and debit cards, Internet shopping has become even more accessible.
Growth in this industry shows no sign of slowing down in the future, according to research. Statistics continue to prove that it remains a growing trend, with an estimated 63% of all Internet users already purchasing products online. Further, as banks continue to increase the security of personal and credit information, more people are less doubtful of the practice. It is this attitude of consumers that will thrust the potential of e-commerce even further. As a recent study has noted, 71% of online users consider it to be more convenient and easier in comparison to the traditional method of shopping or buying through TV or catalogue. Experts postulate that the future of online shopping rests on user experience and as this grows and consumers share these experiences with others, shopping online will grow along with it.
Technology is grounded in the principle of making life easier and more comfortable. Online shopping is one of the best examples of this. With the continuous growth e-commerce has had ever since it started in the early 1990′s, it seems impossible to imagine that it won’t continue to expand as the years go by.
Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu Hawaii
You’ve made the rounds of the beaches, and you’d like to get off the sand for a change. If you’re staying on Oahu, a short drive can take you to the Ala Moana Shopping Center just across the Ala Moana Beach Park. With over 240 shops and 70 dining joints, the Ala Moana is the largest open-air mall in the world and one of the largest shopping centers in the U.S.
The mall caters to all types of shoppers, but more than half the area is occupied by designer brands. Gucci, Armani, and Prada are some of the more popular outlets. For the midrange shoppers, there are also shops from the mainland such as Sears, Macy’s, Old Navy, and Nine West. Of course, you’ve also got local shops such as the Hilo Hattie, where you can get authentic Hawaiian gear as souvenirs.
Dining at the Ala Moana is just as diverse, with cuisines from virtually every continent served at the world’s largest food court. There’s the usual American fare such as pizza and Bubba Gump, as well as happy-hour bars like the Mai Tai. On a budget? Grab some take-out and eat by the koi ponds or one of the tree benches.
If you’re lucky, you can catch a free show at the Centerstage, a public amphitheater at the center of the mall. The shows feature both local and international acts and can be watched from the upper balconies. Hula dancers and the Royal Hawaiian Band are among the regular performers.
E-Commerce – Online Shopping
Shopping, selling and banking can now be done in just one click away, thanks to the power of Internet. Internet has provided a play field where everything is almost possible. High technology has extended the limitation of Internet from merely sending and receiving information to buying and selling products and services.
The appropriate usage of the Internet can easily make anyone rich. Thanks to the new trend that has been rising over the Internet. The buying and selling of products and services online is called Electronic Commerce or E-Commerce. This provides a new venue for people who are interested selling products and services. The Internet has provided an opportunity to anyone who wants start up a business in selling in a practical and convenient manner.
This new market trend opens new services online as well. The sellers would need to “bank” their sales and buyers need money online to purchase products. Online banking was also introduced at the surge of E-commerce. The Internet has provided middlemen to link bank accounts to online banks in order for buyers and sellers to transact their business. This technology can now enable people to shop online or pay their bills with just their credit/debit cards and a computer at the convenience of their home.
Local products can now be promoted and sold globally without the hassle of physically going to places. Sellers can now advertise their products through social networking sites, which cater to everyone available in the web, all over the world. You can now sell even your own used up things like shoes, bags, shirts, to even your car! Hey, if you wanted to have someone rent your condominium or apartment, and then all you have to do is post an advertisement saying you are selling these forms of real estate then just waits. In a matter of minutes or hours, there would definitely someone willing to rent it.
E-commerce has globalized even the larger companies. The option of having economical resources is possible through E-commerce. Companies can even extend their resources to other countries providing cheap materials, which would help the company profit at a lesser expense. In just a short period of time, E-commerce can develop a potentially small-scale business to a progressively larger company.
In economics, the place where buyers and sellers transact business is called a market. If you do it in the Internet it is now called Electronic market or simply E-market. These are Internet sites where buyers and sellers transact their businesses. This is a convenient place to buy and sell products. It saves people a lot of time and effort. All that has to be done is use the computer with Internet connection; go to a shopping site, place orders and in no time you orders will be in your doorstep. You don’t even have to drive through traffic jams to get your shopping done. Now almost everyone can do business and be progressive because E-commerce provides business opportunities easily in the global market.