Since the emergence of the Internet in the late ‘90s, online shopping has continuously grown and expanded. Between 2000 and 2010, many customers started making their first online orders. They gradually became more accustomed to shopping online over the years.
Since 2010 approximately, online shopping has become the shopping norm for billions of customers. But is it really here to stay or is it just a trend? Will the online shopping market continue to grow, or will it die down?
Read on to find out more about online shopping and whether it is the future of fashion.
What is online shopping?
Online shopping is the act of shopping via the Internet. Examples of online shopping platforms include Vinted, an app that allows people to sell their old clothes and buy someone else’s vintage clothes at a discounted price. Customers sometimes find famous designer clothes on this app and on similar platforms. Other famous online shopping platforms include Amazon, ASOS or Depop.
The popularity of online shopping has led many designers and companies to offer online shopping options. Clients now have the option to visit a land-based shop or a virtual one. Reports suggest that there are about 2.64 billion digital buyers. This represents 33.3% of the population worldwide. According to the European Commission, most online shoppers are young individuals aged between 25 and 34 years old.
Why is online shopping so popular?
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Marketed and popularized on social media
Online shopping is attracting younger clients thanks to social media. Many Gen Z shoppers will share their virtual shopping purchases online and advertise the latest trending products on social media.
For example, TikTok and Instagram influencers are boosting the sales of trendy puffer jackets.
Companies understand the importance of social media and use it in their favor to promote their latest products.
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Convenience
Online shopping is very convenient, accessible, and easy. Shoppers can do their shopping from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection.
They can visit dozens of shops within a matter of minutes and compare the different offers and discounts available.
They can have their order delivered straight to their home or to someone else’s place in a few days. If they’re unhappy with the products, they can usually return them for free.
Is online shopping here to stay?
Online shopping is definitely here to stay.
The majority of online shoppers are young individuals. In other words, the adults of tomorrow will be used to, and comfortable with, online shopping.
They will, inevitably, continue to shop online throughout their adulthood. It is a consumer habit that they have developed, strengthened, and reinforced in their teenage and young adult years.
Old habits die hard.
But land-based shops and venues will most likely continue to exist as well. Many online shoppers like having more than one shopping option. For example, many of them enjoy trying clothes in a land-based shop and then ordering those clothes online. This gives them time to think about the product and confidently purchase it later. Others like to, first, look online at a shop’s collection and then visit the shop’s land-based venue to try those clothes on. If the clothes fit well, they purchase them in person.
In other words, it is convenient for stores to have both online and land-based shopping options. These two options increase their chances of successfully promoting their collection, attracting new clients, and boosting sales. To sum up, online and land-based shopping are not contradictory but can really complement each other.
Final thoughts
This article discussed the future of online shopping in the fashion industry. As mentioned above, online shopping is here to stay and will continue to grow and expand over the following decades.
This does not mean that land-based venues and in-person shopping will die down. Both online shopping and in-person shopping complement each other.
