Hello World! Welcome Friends! For years, you’ve probably been hearing that brick and mortar stores are a dying breed, and that physical spaces are being replaced by online retailers. While it’s certainly true that more people are shopping on the web, some of the alarm is a little exaggerated. It turns out that people do still like to go out to shopping centers such as City Center Bishop Ranch in San Ramon, California, and that’s not likely to ever go away. Here are some of the reasons for that.
Source: Mall of America
Comparison Shopping
Whether customers are lured in by special sales like black Friday deals on toys, or making a big purchase like a major appliance, they’re looking for one of two things: quality or value. Sometimes, they’re lucky enough to get both, but either way, consumers love a bargain. They also want to make informed decisions before purchasing. Being able to go to a few different stores and ask sales associates important questions is a huge benefit that really can’t be duplicated online. In some boutique stores, they may even be able to haggle and get a better deal!
Trying Things On
Along the same lines as comparison shopping, people need to test certain items out. Clothing is, of course, the most critical example of this. You really never know how something is going to fit or look on you until you’ve tried it on. Clothing at stores will be neatly organized using shop fitting supplies from stores like Valentinos and be easily accessible for you to pick out and try on.
While you can return or exchange merchandise to most major online clothing shops, that delays the process of getting you stuff, sometimes for weeks!
This also applies to electronics and big-ticket items. Can you buy a car without test driving it? Sure. Would you? Probably not. A less extreme example is a wireless speaker. People’s relationship with the music they love is personal, and their tastes are very different. Only you know what sounds good to you, and good luck replicating that experience online.
Communal Experience
The last major reason people like to physically shop is more psychological than practical. It’s a social activity! Whether you’re shopping with a friend or just visiting the mall, you’re part of a human tradition that goes all the way back to ancient marketplaces. Shopping is a (mostly) positive human interaction that benefits us individually and as a society.
The convenience and instant gratification of online shopping is undeniable. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for physical shopping in the digital world. In the 2020s, we can look forward to a balance of both, and that isn’t likely to ever change significantly.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
5 Reasons Why Roof Repair and Maintenance Is Important!
Which Home Improvements Really Add Value
Make your Home Buying Process Easy
The Art of Keeping Up Appearances
How Can Technology Make a Mom’s Life Easier?
One Room Challenge: Teen Bedroom – Week Four
I’d love for you to join my email list! You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox which will include links to my latest home project posts! Simply enter your address below.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
[…] Why People Still Go to Stores […]