Fozia Majeed
Srinagar, Jul 24 (KNB): Comparison between online and store shopping is gaining attention of many people. Before going for online shopping shopper wants to confirm every bit of pro’s and con’s of online shopping. There is no denying that smart phones and tablets are making it easy for shoppers today research business, survey products, read customers reviews and even purchase goods. But there are still a huge number of people who like to see an item in person and touch it before deciding to buy. Offline consumers can inspect and examine merchandise, and even ask questions to sales staff.
On the other hand for shoppers going to various places, mobile device can take shoppers to stores within their area of location. The delivery of promotions is a factor in online versus in-store marketing. Approximately 50 percent of consumers want real time promotions on their smart phones.
The physical retail store affords practical benefits. They provide interactive dressing rooms allow the store to track customer needs or interests in size, colours and styles of clothing . Furthermore,”click and collect” shopping, as customers browse select and pay online, with this approach customers can reduce the risk of not receiving items on time. According to Lander App , in 2014,UPS ground packages enjoyed a 97 percent on time delivery rate during the holiday season.
The importance of branding to consumers choices will continue as one of the retail trends in 2017. A report from MarTech survey on consumers branding choices: almost six out of ten shoppers prefer to select new merchandise from brands familiar to them. 21 percent of customers bought new items because they liked the brand that produced it. 38 Percent of moms purchased items from brands”liked by Facebook users”. Building brand loyalty involves more than better products and prices. By using content marketings, retailers can relay their stories and visions to a broader reach.
People sometimes receive broken items , the wrong items and items that were not as described by the online store. In stores you can actually see the item, but you have to trust the picture when shopping online. Many sellers would zoom in for the item a lot,so the item has a chance at being smaller when you see it. People can take advantages of big sales on online stores and purchase in a bulk.
To determine the shopping preferences of today’s customers and how they veiw the in-store versus the online buying experience. Imprint plus , makers of reusable customised name badges and signage conducted a random survey of 1000 men and women across the country . The survey respondents were somewhat divided into three groups of those who prefer to shop online (32%) in-store (29.7%) and a combination of both (37%). Amomg those who prefer the in-store experience,they frequent the following stores in order to preference:discout mass merchandisers ,such as Walmart and target (76%), food retailers such as grocery stores and whole foods (71.2%) followed by drug stores,such as CVS and Walgreens (50%)beauty supplies such as Sephora (48.9%). The survey tells that consumers shop at brick and mortar retailers primarily for discounted merchandise, food,drug and health and beauty aids,as well as for consumer electronics, appliances, building supplies and clothing,”said Kristen Macmillan, president of imprint plus.
There are many positive points about both of the shopping types but what people like most are their personal choices no matter what kind of shopping is easy and convenient ,good or bad and expensive or affordable . For some, shopping is a hobby ,for others its a chore. Love it or hate it ,we have to shop . We all need food, clothes, footwears and home supplies wheather you do online shopping or in-store shopping just enjoy your shopping.(KNB)
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