According to a recent article in The New York Times, Internet sales are expected to surpass $200 billion this year, up from $175 billion in 2007. Online sales were already growing faster than total retail, but now consumers are cutting down on car trips by shopping on the web.
Busy lifestyles combined with hefty gas prices makes one-stop shopping an extremely attractive option for consumers especially when that one stop can be done without ever leaving your home. Most retailers offer their products online, with many offering exclusive products available only online. Some stores, such as The Limited are arriving “fashionably late” to the online trend. However, due to the tremendous spike in sales, are now rushing to get their wares available in an online forum.
Many online stores have offered discounts on shipping to further entice would-be drivers to shop with a keyboard instead.
Even when stores aren’t offering shipping specials or discounts, often the cost is still less than that of a gallon or two of gas.
As more consumers search and shop online, the opportunity grows. As online marketers we have the opportunity in a significant way to connect shoppers with the experience and products they expect and want.
Perhaps there is some good from higher gas prices…
I welcome your comments below.
Thanks for the info. I’m going to reference the NYT article in a presentation tomorrow for the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce that I am preparing right now.
Thanks again.
When the price of gas started going up I was telling my husband that we need to start using online coupons from now on because it will help us to save a lot of money.