The Impact of Online Retailers

In 2009 about 154 people in the US bought something online. That represents 67% of the online population and a 4% increase over the 2008 numbers according to Forrester Research. Compared to retail sales which increase 2.5% in 2009, online retail sales increased by 11% for the same period. The 2009 sales of 154 billion dollars in the US is expected to jump to 250 billion dollars by the year 2014. So you can see how online retail sales are impacting the retail sales world. That impact has made the major retailers and not major retailers take a closer look at the online opportunities open to them. While Amazon and eBay and similar companies are leading the pack with online sales. Macy’s and other have taken note and done something about it. They joined in the fun and have benefited with the growth offered by online sales.

With the online population growing and the “techno kids” soon becoming adults the online sales can do nothing but increase. What’s even more revealing is when you talk about how the web has influenced purchase; a number that is staggering. According to Forrester they think that about 917 billion dollars in retail sales were influenced by the web. They predict that by 2014 that number will reach 1.4 trillion dollars of in store sales.

Add those numbers to the already impressive reported online sales that don’t, by the way include auto sales, travel and prescription drugs, you have mind staggering numbers.

We’ve talked about US numbers above but don’t forget the influence of foreign markets on the online sales world. Those numbers are even more staggering than the US numbers and will contribute to online stores from all over the world finding success on the web. As more and more users come on line in Asia, Europe and other regions around the world online retail sales will continue to grow and change the landscape of the retail sales world. Influences are many and the researches have their hands full trying to predict what will happen.

Technology is one influence that has certainly changed the way we do business. Mobile devices seem to be in everyone’s hands. You can browse, receive coupons and marketing information and get applications that help you compare prices for the items you are shopping for. When you purchase everything from apparel to handbags from anywhere in the world in the comfort of your own home the trend can only increase in popularity. Mopar Dodge Parts , Toyota Parts, automobiles and even airplanes can be bought online.

As people become more comfortable with making purchases online they will buy more and more. Security has improved for payments and transfer of funds and people around the world are preparing for the explosion that will surely happen in the online retail sales market in the next five to ten years. Hold onto your seat because it is going to be an interesting wild ride that will boggle your mind. Stand by. It will be amazing!

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The New Technology of Online Shopping

We have all heard about e-Commerce but how many of us have ever heard about m-Commerce. The web sales world is a multi-channel world and as technology advances faster and faster those channels will expand and new channels will emerge. m-Commerce is another important channel for online marketing and a way for the consumer to have it easier when looking for information or shopping for goods and services over the internet. The “m” in m-Commerce stands for mobile. With the proliferation of mobile devices that do everything from browse the internet to recording notes during your conversation mobile devices are becoming a big player in the online retail economy.

Online stores are no longer just online stores you can access from your laptop or home computer. They have become mobile friendly and can be accessed from mobile devices all over the world. Whether you want to buy handbags, shoes, ford parts or Mopar parts for your car the website you use will probably be mobile device friendly. This is a development that has helped companies expand and keep up with the big guys. It’s a matter of adapting to the increasing sophistication of available technology and taking advantage of all its benefits.

Mobile devices are in the hands of the consumers from all over the world and much like the original PDAs that came out years ago their mobile device has their whole life on it and is always with them. Mobile devices account for a small portion of online retail sales at the present time but more and more consumers are buying in and expecting websites to be mobile device ready. That means the ease of navigation has to be there just as if they were on their laptop. The mobile device market for retail sales is growing and growing fast. It may even be growing faster than the regular online retail market.

So as changes occur the online merchants have to adapt or they will fall behind. The small merchant can compete with the big guys and the marketplace will open up even more with the use of mobile devices. To show what this technology can do for a relatively small company one only needs to look at the case of Yates & Co. Jewelers.

They operate Titanium-Jewelry.com. Since they launched their m-Commerce venture in 2010 they have experienced increases in page visits, increases in sales and a significant increase in conversion rate as well.

Merchants throughout the world are embracing mobile technology and they are reaping similar benefits to the Yates example. Technology is changing at a very rapid pace and merchants realize that they have to keep up and adapt because the consumer demands it. The new economy of online retail sales has changed many things. The things that remain constant are that the consumer wants good prices, good service and convenience when they shop. The mobile device provides that and knowledgeable merchants have embraced everything about it because it puts money in the tills.

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Supply Chains

Automotive manufacturers have to manage large and complicated supply chains. They have to work hard to create an end product that can be delivered to the consumer and will be satisfactory as well. To make the most of their supply chain and be successful automotive manufacturers often have to go globally for help.

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Sturdy Supply Chains

A supply chain is all the sources and individuals used in a chain to get a product from supplier to customer. The automotive industry is benefited by a good supply chain that is reliable and will get their product to the customer efficiently and effectively. Loving and long lasting suppliers do the best job.

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Sport your Style

The automotive industry creates not only cars to satisfy people’s needs but their wants and desires as well. Automobiles of all different styles and models are created so that there is a car to suit everyone’s style. Some don’t care so much about style and there are vehicles that are more practical for those individuals as well.

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