In the space of fifteen years, the retailing landscape has changed beyond recognition. Today, only the sleepiest of village shops would dream of closing half day Wednesday and most retailers now have extended opening hours, with Sunday trading practically common amongst the supermarkets.
Take a trip into town on a Sunday and you'd be hard pushed to find any differences in the number of shops open for business to those open of a weekday or Saturday.
Evidently retailing has come a really long way in the last 15 years, but if you think traditional bricks and mortar trading has changed, take a glimpse at Directory and Home Shopping.
Put basically: The Internet has revolutionized retailing to such an extent that people do not need to leave the comfort of their own living room.
The discerning consumer can now choose when they want to shop, and is certainly not limited by strictly observed opening hours. 24 hour shopping suggests exactly that. The internet never sleeps and it is today possible to buy (virtually) anything on the internet and have it sent to your front door (if you so desire).
It's not too dramatic to say that Home shopping has come of age in the 21st century, with massive gains to be had for those of us who lead very hectic life styles and work long hours. The crazy rush and congestion that occurred every Saturday on every high street in the land, has thankfully, if only partially, been reduced by the two pronged assault of extended trading hours and days, and the on-line transition and development of Directory and Home Shopping.
Twenty-first century shopping has become an increasingly innovative experience with buyers demanding a better quality of service than ever before. Having much more selection and more retailers to choose from, signifies that Catalog and Home Shopping businesses have to remain on their toes and ahead of the game, in their own bid to change browsing customers (from the comfort of their armchair) in to buying customers.
The sluggish and painful decline in Catalog and Home Shopping has forced numerous such retailers to seriously focus on just what they offer and almost without exception there is a dawning realization that the net presents an opportunity to spectacularly reverse this pattern.
With the right vision and imaginative approach Catalog and Home Shopping merchants have the ability to transform themselves on the web whilst retaining their core strengths. Addressing fashion movements, niche areas and busy 24 hour lifestyles is the key to internet success, and just like never before, fortune really does favor the brave.
In brief, you and I can anticipate more choice, better support and even much more convenience from those retailers who decide to sign up for the online shopping revolution.
Is presently there a need for a one stop shopping website that provides customers with the finest that e-tailing has to offer.... clearly there is. Go a step further and supply a one stop shop that offers the exact fantastic e-tailing selection, but with a further option to request a physical, published catalogue to be delivered directly to the buyers front front door, as well as the complete online buying experience starts to look extremely attractive.
What does this imply to us as the customer? In brief wherever we decide toshop, we now possess a fantastic variety of choices when deciding to part with our hard earned income.