IMPACT OF INTERNET SHOPPING ON THE PHYSICAL STORE

Abstract

The onset of the millennium brought about change and an increasingly fast pace of life. Accordingly, technology has become an integral part of our lives and consequently, our lifestyles have changed as a reaction to this. Resultantly, the Internet, has brought about communication and convenience and has changed the way our lives operated. Internet shopping has been a boon to shoppers craving for timesavings in their jam packed lives. The offering of convenience and product uniqueness has been an attractive substitute for shopping of products in-store. As such, will its growing popularity mark the demise of the traditional brick and mortar store? This study sets out to investigate the impact that Internet shopping will have on in-store shopping and the survival of the physical store on our local shores. The study commences by establishing the profile of the Internet shopper. Thereafter, the spending and buying habits of the Internet shopper is investigated. Additionally, the study determined if product classes had an effect on the frequency towards which an Internet shoppers patronised a physical store. Lastly, the implication towards the retailers is studied and recommendations are provided against this trend.